OT- Kim Jong-Il has died

Submitted by sarto1g on

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2011-12-18/north-korea-leader-dies/52058036/1

 

I don't know who is next in line in their country, but for the people's sake I hope they can make some progress over there.

 

[ED:BISB - I want to leave this up, but in order to make that possible, I'm probably gonna have to delete anything that strays into the politics surrounding it.  Go nuts, and if I delete something insightful, I apologize. Kinda]

WestSider

December 18th, 2011 at 11:00 PM ^

it was already sprung on non sporting sites, this stuff is better left to CNN, or MSNBC or the like. While I'm at it, fuck that big lolly pop headed dictator buffoon. 

polometer

December 18th, 2011 at 11:00 PM ^

Salivating and on the edge of your seat?  The overlly political comment to blow up this post is coming--I can taste it.  It's like watching a drunk guy fight a brick wall: you know he's gonna knock himself out, its just a matter of time.

TyrannousLex

December 18th, 2011 at 11:06 PM ^

I happened to have a bottle of cheap soju in my fridge that's well stocked with homemade kimchi. That soju's been in there for like 18 months; it takes something like Kim Jong-il dying to bring me to drink it.

And may the penninsula stay peaceful.

Tha Stunna

December 18th, 2011 at 11:24 PM ^

He will not be missed.  They say his son will be next in line, but I hear that Craig James is trying to get into politics and is crazy.  Perhaps a surprise leader will emerge?

StephenRKass

December 18th, 2011 at 11:28 PM ^

Things will be tense for some time on the Korean peninsula. I certainly can't predict the future, but I do hope that sooner or later, South and North Korea reunite. Many families were split somewhat permanently back in 1953, when prisoners of war had to make a choice:  return to North Korea over "the bridge of no return," or stay in South Korea, and never see your family again. I knew two professors personally (this is more than 20 years ago) who had not seen their home for close to 40 years (at the time.)

It is hard to say exactly what things are like, but poverty and lack of opportunity and personal freedom seems rampant in North Korea. I'd love to see that change. It was beautiful to backpack up to the top of Soraksan in South Korea. I'd love to go back someday and be able to go to the top of the tallest mountain, Baekdusan, which is on the border of North Korea and  China.

M-Wolverine

December 19th, 2011 at 12:19 AM ^

Parade had their list of 5 worst dictators.
<br>
<br>5. Bashar al-Assad, Syria
<br>4. Islam Karimov, Uzbejistan
<br>3. Omar al-Bashir, Sudan
<br>2. Isaias Afewerki, Eritrea
<br>1. Very very recently deceased

M-Wolverine

December 19th, 2011 at 11:15 AM ^

Karimov jails activists, journalist (not Rosenberg), and anyone practicing religion other than Islam, with 7000 prisoners being held and tortured.  Students, teachers and kids as young as 9are forced to harvest cotton living in barracks in inhumane conditions.

Al-Bashir has bombed civilians, killing untold numbers and causing 100,000 to flee.  The ICC has charged him with genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity in Darfur, where 300,000 have been killed in the last 8 years (and embezzled billions).

Afrewerki, in the not made up Country of Eritrea has no constitution, every male at 18 must enter "national service" which is forced labor at the penalty of deat. Unsanctioned religious beliefs are cause for  imprisonment and torture, as are activitists and journalists (still not Rosenberg).  50,000 refugees have fled to Ethiopia (if you're running to Ethiopia, you know you have problems), and allegedly he's aiding Al Qaeda militants.

Not to discount Assad's military bombing and firing on revolt crowds, with 3500 demonstrators (250 children) killed. It's so bad even the Arab League has placed sanctions on Syria. But hey, he not just an ophthalmologist, but an EVIL ophthalmologist.

Rounding out the top ten of "we won't be sorry when you're gone":

6. U Thein Sein, Myanmar (who's actually considered an improvement from the guy before him)

7. Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, Turkmenistan (who would be a great name Tournament guy if he wasn't such a bad one)

8. Raul Castro, Cuba (similar situation to N. Korea takeover...?)

9. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Equatorial Guinea (see #7)

10. Hugo Chavez, Venezuela (but hey, Sean Penn likes him, so he has that going for him, which is nice)

http://www.parade.com/dictators/index.html

Though yes, ranking them is kinda arbitrary.  Kinda like the 50 most beautiful people and their ilk lists. (Did Brad Pitt REALLY get that much less dreamy than last year...?)

 

gopoohgo

December 18th, 2011 at 11:46 PM ^

I'm trying to find the satelite pictures of North Korean mass graves (mounds) from the late 90s famine.  Estimates ranged from 300-800,000 people per year starved to death for about 5 years.

As someone of South Korean heritage, I'm truly glad the fu*ker will be rotting in hell.  Hopefully, his sadistic regime will be crumbling as well.

M Fanfare

December 18th, 2011 at 11:55 PM ^

The world got a litte worse this morning when Vaclav Havel died. It got a little better in the afternoon/evening when Kim Jong-Il died.

If anyone wants to read a fascinating book about North Korea, read Nothing to Envy. It deals mostly with the mid-'90s to early-'00s famine years.

kakusei

December 18th, 2011 at 11:56 PM ^

i visited North Korea last year and wrote a diary about it on here.  after that experience of seeing just how important Kim Jong Il was to the fabric and (relative) political stability of that country, his death is certainly not good news.  from what I have read, this is much sooner than had been anticipated, and his son has yet to gather the support of the military (and the rest of his family) to make for a smooth transition (Kim Jong Un is still in his twenties, and many generals who fought alongside Kim Il Sung are not pleased that some spoiled kid with no experience could legitimately take power).  I seriously think this siutation is prime for a coup by the miltary, and it could get pretty ugly pretty fast.  this is bad not only for North Korea, but for its regional neighbors as well - ROK, PRC, and Japan.  I would be very nervous if I was over there - the threat of civil war (god forbid even nuclear) is certainly looming in the background.  i certinaly hope this gets resolved quickly and smoothly - the sudden collapse of the North is much more dangerous than many may think.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

December 19th, 2011 at 12:50 AM ^

I think you're 100% correct.  Although I doubt Kim Jong Un is cut from any different cloth than Kim Jong Il, it needs to be remembered that the North Korean military is huge - especially in relation to the population - and a power struggle is very possible.  KJI had a nice cozy relationship with China, which was one of the main factors keeping his regime in power and legitimizing it.  It totally remains to be seen what the PRC thinks of Junior, and if they pull their support it could be awfully destabilizing.  (Which is why I bet they don't.)

One thing you may see is a flood of refugees coming out of both the north and south borders of the country.  If the army is perceived to not be totally in support of a new Dear Leader, people gonna book it while they can.

I have a hard time hoping for a smooth resolution because that's likely to just mean business as usual in North Korea, which isn't good.  A little upheaval might be a worthwhile price to pay for reunification or at least a change in standard operating procedure.  The nukes are a nasty wild card, though.