Kim Jong-il is dead [Main Thread]

[TigerLikesRooster]

Kim Jong-il is dead

[TigerLikesRooster]

http://www.nksis.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=b01&wr_id=67

Kim Kyok-sik's Profile (per nksis.com)

• 1940: birth
• 1971: military attache at NK Embassy in Syria
• 1992: promoted to a lieutenant general
• 1994: Commander of 2nd Corps
• 1997: promoted to a full general, commanded marching units of military parade at the 65th anniversary of N. Korean Army
• a brother of Kim Dae-sik, the Chief of Reconnaissance Bureau of N. Korean military, who orchestrated the submarine infiltration operation in Kan-neug, S. Korea, in 1996
• 2007: Chief of Staff
• 2009: Commander of 4th Corps
• 2010: thought to have orchestrated the Cheonan's sinking and Yeonpyeong shelling
• 2011: military adviser to Kim Jong-eun (speculation: downsized but still in the loop)

[AmericanInTokyo]

Hey TLR, you can't say the old buzzard did not have some job perks while he was still on Earth:

[TigerLikesRooster]

As has been frequently the case, it could all start by a local clash in some provincial town or village over mundane things. Local security apparatus, whose effectiveness has been eroded steadily, fail to put down the unrest, and it lingers on. Copy-cat unrest start to happen. Again efforts to put them down is inept and poorly coordinated. People sense that the authorities are now just a paper tiger. This would send shock wave to Pyongyang, where some faction, which kept its head down despite it being marginalized for some time, finally decided to move against the leadership.

It is one of the ways things can unfold.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Some speculate that he was dead while sleeping and they did not find it until the next morning. One of several theories floating around.

[TigerLikesRooster]

That's a work of nice photoshop. IIRC, he was staring at some N. Korean women in the picture. Those gals are not from N. Korea. Must be those from well-known girl groups.

[TigerLikesRooster]

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/12/21/2011122101471.html

The Tenuous Position of Kim Jong-il’s Eldest Son

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s death has put some international spotlight on his eldest son Jong-nam, who lives in virtual exile overseas. Born to Song Hye-rim, Kim's second wife who died in 2002, Jong-nam had been regarded as a potential heir until the late 1990s.

But he fell out of favor in 2001 when he was arrested at Narita International Airport in Tokyo traveling on a false passport. Kim senior then turned his attention to his younger sons Jong-chol and Jong-un by his third and favorite wife Ko Yong-hui.

Kim Jong-nam regularly visited Pyongyang until his father had a stroke in summer 2008. But since Kim Jong-un was anointed heir to the hereditary throne in January 2009, he lived an itinerant life in mainly in Macau and Beijing and stayed well away from North Korea. Experts say he may not be safe and there have been rumors of assassination attempts by his younger brother, who is desperate to consolidate his position.

A source familiar with the internal North Korean affairs said China prefers Kim Jong-nam, who is pro-Chinese and reform-minded, and could end up backing him for the leadership in case the Kim Jong-un regime fails.

[AmericanInTokyo]

I really doubt it will start in Pyongyang, but will go from the roots of the tree to finally infest the trunk of the tree, in this case. Too bad we dont have a Reagan in the White House, because the heroic North Korean people could depend on the US to back them up in such a situation, through a variety of measures. Can’t count on it with Obama and how he left the Iranian people out to twist in the wind.

[AmericanInTokyo]

yes, they actually look more Japanese or Chinese to me, not North Korean.

[AdmSmith]

i.e. a remake of the death of Stalin http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2822160/posts?page=616#616

[TigerLikesRooster]

Telegraph in London ran the following article. I find it hard to believe that Kim Sulsong has significant clout. I heard Kim Ok, his 4th wife, has some clout but not Sulsong. About Kim Jong-nam, he and his aunt Kim Kyong-hui had been tight. Kim Kyong-hui practically raised Jong-nam. He does not have bad blood with Jang Sung-taek either, as far as I know. So if opportunity presents itself, Jong-nam and Jang’s faction can reconcile and oust Kim Jong-eun. I heard Kim Kyong-hui is not keen on the children of Chia Head's now deceased third wife, Ko Yong-hee, who is the mother of Kim Jong-eun.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/8968827/Kim-Jong-il-dead-power-struggle-begins-between-three-factions.html

Kim Jong-il dead: power struggle begins between three factions

A dynastic power struggle has begun in North Korea where experts have identified three rival factions jockeying for position behind Kim Jong-un, the country's new leader.

By David Blair, Chief Foreign Correspondent

9:00PM GMT 20 Dec 2011

..........

Three factions may now be taking shape behind the new leader. Perhaps the most significant is led by Chang Sung-taek, a pillar of the regime who serves as vice-chairman of the National Defence Commission. His wife, Kim Kyong-hui, is the younger sister of the late leader.

.........

If he does try to become North Korea's de facto Regent, Mr Chang will probably face important rivals. Kim Sul-song, the 36-year-old daughter of the late leader, was close to her father and still holds an important position in the state's propaganda department.

..........

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-nam, the former dictator's eldest son, may also seek to rebuild his influence. Originally viewed as the most likely successor, the 40-year-old fell out of favour when he tried to leave the country and make a clandestine trip to Japan in 2001.

But there are signs that he subsequently restored some of his reputation: in 2008, he called the doctors who treated the late leader after a stroke. He was occasionally allowed to speak on behalf of his father in meetings with foreign visitors

[TigerLikesRooster]

According to S. Korean media( http://kr.news.yahoo.com/service/news/shellview2.htm?articleid=20111221150411227f7&linkid=624&newssetid=1540&title=%C1%F6%B1%B8%C3%CC+%C7%B3%B0%E6 ), Kim Jong-il's family invited Japanese female magician Princess Tenko for his funeral. Apparently, she performed in front of him, and Chia Head liked her so much that he asked her to stay in N. Korea, which she declined.

From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Tenko

She was the subject of controversy after making a visit to North Korea in April 1998. It was reported that she met North Korean leader Kim Jong Il but she reportedly denied this in interviews.[citation needed] She has stated that the purpose of her visit was to perform at the Friendship Art Festival held in Pyongyang and to meet Korean artists.[1] She again visited North Korea in 2000 and performed for Kim Jong Il. She was asked to stay in North Korea but refused.[2]

[TigerLikesRooster]

Watch this hilarious video from Taiwan:

Kim Jong-il dead, North Korea's future uncertain

[TigerLikesRooster]

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T111220005591.htm

Defectors worried about families / Former N. Koreans say Kim's death could put their relatives at risk

About 200 defectors from North Korea living in Japan, who have experienced firsthand the severe conditions of life in the reclusive country, were happy to hear about the death of its leader Kim Jong Il and are hoping for change throughout the nation. But they are concerned about the future of their kin who still live in North Korea.

Most of the defectors are Japanese women who married pro-Pyongyang Korean residents in Japan, as well as their children. These Japanese women moved to North Korea from Japan with their husbands under the repatriation program between 1959 and 1984.

Despite the news, nine people aged in their 20s to 50s, including seven defectors, gathered in Tokyo for their usual Japanese language class at 7 p.m., Monday. The class is run by the Tokyo-based nongovernmental organization Life Funds For North Korean Refugees, which receives Japanese government financial assistance.

“I think most North Korean people are happy in their hearts,” said a 57-year-old female defector.

[jhpigott]

A few of the ole’ threats we’ve heard before and a pledge of undying allegiance by the military to Kim Jong-un.

Before Kim Jong-il’s death announced, Kim Jong-un ordered military units to halt field exercises and return to their bases - YonhapNews

North Korea wants US to remove purported nuclear weapons from South Korean territory - Reuters

More: North Korea warns Monday’s missile test was a warning but will not conduct nuclear test unless provoked - Reuters

More: North Korean military pledges allegiance to new leader Kim Jong Un - Reuters

http://www.breakingnews.com/

[jhpigott]

W7VOA Steve Herman
State Dept. says “monitoring issue” unresolved in recent talks with #DPRK on resumption of US food aid. http://myloc.me/nQyKg

[AdmSmith]

Is this really correct?

Kim Jong-il pictured boarding his personal armoured train in August this year as his security staff keep watch.
http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/16134653

Look at the two persons at the center and at the right. Are they really part of the security staff of KJI? Was he hiring Xe or any other service?

[TigerLikesRooster]

They must be Russian security details accompanying Kim’s entourage. He was visiting Russia at the time.

[TigerLikesRooster]

That means that Zero's attempt at diplomatic breakthrough failed with the death of Kim Jong-il.

[Straight Vermonter]

IV Corps Order of Battle

[jhpigott]

If Kim Kyok-sik still leads the 4th Corp he could cause some serious trouble. Sounds like that is one of their better army groups and stationed along the DMZ. It would be odd, I would think, to keep the commander of such an important army group off the list of dignitaries at Kim Jong-Il’s funeral.