The Death of Kim Jong-il

Kim Jong-il (김정일), the dictator of North Korea, has died.

In North Korea, it was announced that Kim Jong-il died of a heart attack caused by the stress induced in him by his leadership work.

In South Korea, television stations cancelled much of their regular programming today, dedicating their resources to news coverage and analysis of this event.  Much was also published on the web-sites of the major Korean newspapers and news broadcasters (see KBS, Korea Times, Chosun Ilbo, and Hankyoreh).  I imagine that tomorrow, this will be the front page story of almost all print newspapers in South Korea.


North Korea's neighbours solemnly responded to the news.  The government of Japan offered formal condolences to the North Korean people, as did the government of China.

In South Korea, the news was received with some concern.  The South Korean president held an emergency meeting to discuss the matter.  Both the South Korean military and the South Korean civil service were placed on alert, just in case something unexpected happens in North Korea.  Some government officials, including the president of South Korea, expressed fears that the passing of Kim Jong-il could have a negative effect on the economy of South Korea.


In the longer term, there is concern about the new ruler of North Korea, Kim Jong-eun (김정은), as he is very young and inexperienced.  Kim Jong-eun is the son of Kim Jong-il, and even before Kim Jong-il died, analysts had argued that Kim Jong-eun may not be able to maintain control of the North Korean government after the passing of his father.  Could it be that dramatic events will soon unfold in North Korea?



update - 2011-12-23
Japan has officially decided not to convey official condolences to anyone in North Korea on the occasion of Kim Jong-il's death.  Earlier reports were actually about statements made by a representative of the Japanese government who now claims that his words were personal, not official.

Also, North Korean defectors now living in South Korea have stated to South Korean news agencies that they doubt that many North Koreans are truly saddened by the death of Kim Jong-il.  Defectors interviewed by the Chosun Ilbo stated that only the residents of Pyongyang are likely to be truly saddened by Kim Jong-il's death, as they are the only residents of North Korea who benefit from his régime.  According to the same defectors, there is no real support for Kim Jong-il in the North Korean countryside, as people there are starving and receive no government support.  In contrast, people in Pyongyang receive food rations from the government, thus ensuring that they remain loyal to it.  Interestingly, one defector indicated that loyalty towards Kim Il-sung, the first dictator of North Korea and father of Kim Jong-il, was far more widespread.  So it seems that support for the North Korean government has declined since Kim Jong-il took power.  Could it be that North Koreans will soon rise up and overthrow their government?