.jpg)
Posted on 09/30/2006 2:27:18 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
2006/09/29 09:53 KST
N.K. leader uses look-alikes due to fear of assassination: S. Korean official
By Kim Hyung-jin
SEOUL, Sept. 29 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's reclusive leader Kim Jong-il has employed at least two doubles to impersonate him at public functions due largely to his fear of being assassinated, a South Korean intelligence official said Friday.
It is no secret that other authoritarian figures such as deposed Iraq leader Saddam Hussein and Adolf Hitler also used physical doubles at times for political, intelligence and safety reasons.
"As far as I know, at least two Kim Jong-il look-alikes fill in for him for some lower profile official events to reduce the chances of Kim being exposed to terrorist attempts," a South Korean intelligence official said on request of anonymity.
"They are the spitting image of Kim -- the same age, same height and with the same bouffant hairstyle and pot belly," he said. "They are trained to behave like him and even had plastic surgery to enhance the resemblance." There have been occasional reports of terrorist attempts on Kim, 63, who has ruled North Korea with an iron fist since his father, founding President Kim Il-sung, died of heart failure in 1994.
Some press reports and experts suspected a 2004 train accident in Ryongchon, North Korea, which killed 161 people and wounded hundreds others, might have been a failed attempt on Kim's life.
Kim has participated in major national events like the country's founding anniversary and mass military parades in person, but often orders his doubles to stand in for less important events such as visits to army-affiliated farms, the official said.
"North Korea-dispatched photos featuring Kim's profile are highly likely to be those of a stand-in," he said.
"I heard that their strong physical resemblance makes it hard to detect them even at close range, so many North Korean officials accompanying them don't know whether they are with the real Kim Jong-il or one of his doubles." Another South Korean intelligence official said he was also aware of Kim's use of political decoys.
"According to one report that I saw, Kim has sent his doubles to some official functions on his behalf when his health was bad and he was concerned that he may look weak in front of his people," the official said, also speaking on condition of anonymity.
Ping!
He is NOT ronery!
I love to have Team America sequel where there are several Kim Jong-il's. That would be real fun.:)
"I shall call them...Multi-Mes!"
If you are allowed to punch her in the face, you will change your mind in a heartbeat, I suspect.:)
Would it turn my hand ugly? =P
Hey, Jesse Helms thought she was wonderful.
Dummies for Dictators 1.0
If I looked like Kim and were Korean, I'd take advantage of that culture's favorable attitude toward suicide.
All the guy needs are balls.
But can they hit a hole-in-one on their first golf outing like Il did?
Maybe one of the doubles did actually play a golf, unlike Kim Jong-il who is alleged to play one.:)
Damn what a cute couple !!!
OMG they are more Chia Pets TOO FUNNY ROFL
Well least he is not roaney LOL!
That would be series--looking like that dude.
OMG that be so funny to spoof remember Chia Pet left in space ship at end of the movie come back in the Clones that be funny to spoof
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.