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[The Technomancer]

He died two days ago? Well there goes my hope for some kind of coup in the hours following his death by a squad of brave high-ranking reunification wanting North Korean soldiers, including, inexplicably, one black guy.

 

[Cyan]

I still don't think harsh irony is appropriate when people are dying. And I'm not just pointing you out.

That's your prerogative.

I would rather laugh than cry.

 

[CrazyDude]

Why are people assuming the son is going to be any different than his father?

He likes Michel Jordan.

 

[Captain Tuttle]

I see four possible outcomes:

1. His son takes over and things stay mostly the same in North Korea.
2. His son can't keep the generals in line and they get rid of him. Things continue as they were, but without one true figurehead.
3. His son can't keep power and the nation collapses under a coup attempt or unraveling of some sort. This could be very messy.
4. North Korea begins a slow process of opening up to the world, ala Burma/Myanmar.

I don't think China will let #3 happen. I hope it's #4

 

[ggnoobIGN]

He likes Michel Jordan.

Wasn't his father one of the biggest NBA fans out there?

 

[Fari]

I hope that his son will be comparatively less evil, but it'll probably be more of the same.

 

[First Name]

He died two days ago? Well there goes my hope for some kind of coup in the hours following his death by a squad of brave high-ranking reunification wanting North Korean soldiers, including, inexplicably, one black guy.

Fuck. *tosses out screenplay*

 

[Hylian7]

Why are people assuming the son is going to be any different than his father?

Wishful thinking.

Spoiler

I want to believe too.

 

[gabbo]

It's obviously stupid to credit anyone for most of these, but Fidel Castro resigned with Bush in office, and there was Saddam too. So wouldn't the scoreboard just be 2 to 2 anyways?

Uh, osama, tunisia, libya, egypt, now kim?

 

[SoulPlaya]

He likes Michel Jordan.

His dad has a basketball autographed by Jordan, as a gift from Allbright.

 

[krypt0nian]

Not shocking. I know he had been Il for a while.

 

[itwasTuesday]

Gonna wear this tomorrow.

 

[ezekial45]

A friend of mine on FB just posted this;

"YEP... Korea's alert level is on 3. Level 1 being war. SO.... I guess shit is going down."

 

[bengraven]

"We're fucked when I die..."

 

[PBalfredo]

I see four possible outcomes:

1. His son takes over and things stay mostly the same in North Korea.
2. His son can't keep the generals in line and they get rid of him. Things continue as they were, but without one true figurehead.
3. His son can't keep power and the nation collapses under a coup attempt or unraveling of some sort. This could be very messy.
4. North Korea begins a slow process of opening up to the world, ala Burma/Myanmar.

I'd say number 4 is the least likely, as I don't see Kim Jong Il's heir having any motivation to give up absolute power. Kim Jong Il continued the dictatorship from his father and I expect history to repeat. Outcomes 2 and 3 are also possible, but it relies on whatever is the climate of NK's internal polictics, which are a complete mystery, so it's hard to judge how likely this outcome is.

 

[lastplayed]

A friend of mine on FB just posted this;

"YEP... Korea's alert level is on 3. Level 1 being war. SO.... I guess shit is going down."

Time to resurrect the cast of MASH.

 

[Brazil]

A friend of mine on FB just posted this;

"YEP... Korea's alert level is on 3. Level 1 being war. SO.... I guess shit is going down."

You have smart friends.

 

[Captain Tuttle]

A friend of mine on FB just posted this;

"YEP... Korea's alert level is on 3. Level 1 being war. SO.... I guess shit is going down."

What's the normal alert level?

 

[Ripclawe]

The Son is the least of the worries, its the old guard in the military and Jong's inner circle that won't allow much if any change

 

[C.Dark.DN]

It likely will not get any better in North Korea. Kim Jung Il was an autocrat, but he has not been as politically active in 5 years. The problem, of course, is that North Korea is as near to a black hole as there can be.

THe theory of his sons becoming his predecessors, though, has always been spurious. One of them spent significant time in Europe and is considered tainted by Western ideology, and the other had the closest thing to a national scandal within the last few years -- I don't know the details of either, but I remember reading about it a couple years ago.

He has three sons.

 

[Yamauchi]

I've gotten quite close to a few North Koreans here in Indonesia, since this is one of the few countries in the world that maintains normal diplomatic and trading relations with North Korea.

Kim Jong-Il was not revered in the same way as his father. Kim Il-Sung is viewed as a god, literally. One North Korean put it this way to me: "When Kim Il-Sung died, every Korean in the world cried"--that's their belief. Kim Il-Sung delivered as a leader by providing economic stability, relying heavily on Soviet subsidies. With Kim Jong-Il, however, within a few years of taking office, the food shortages began and have been chronic ever since.

I may be irrationally optimistic, but I do believe change can happen in NK. Just the other day there was the report of 8 border guards fleeing to China. These are the guys who are supposed to be shooting people when they try to flee North Korea. Capitalism is creeping in as well, so maybe some day...

 

[bengraven]

I truly do not believe that the kid will be able to maintain military order. I believe that someone will try and make a move.

Time to resurrect the cast of MASH.

Please God remake MASH...the time is ripe.

 

[Death Dealer]

A friend of mine on FB just posted this;

"YEP... Korea's alert level is on 3. Level 1 being war. SO.... I guess shit is going down."

I'm sure it's precautionary.

While reunification would be interesting, I don't think it can happen yet. The two Koreas have grown really far apart compared to Eastern and Western Germany.

 

[xbhaskarx]

This is TWO. There will be a third.

.

These things always happen in threes...

1. Christopher Hitchens
2. Vaclav Havel
3. Kim Jong Il

 

[Captain Tuttle]

Time to resurrect the cast of MASH.

Present!

 

[CrazyDude]

His dad has a basketball autographed by Jordan, as a gift from Allbright.

Yeah, but if we trade Jordan as a peace offering, than all of our problems will be solved.

 

[Joel Was Right]

There has been speculation as to the power the military has in the country as opposed to the Kim family.

 

[CHEEZMO™]

Guy being interviewed on the BBC just said that after his stroke he became "Kim Jong Very Ill".

Hmm.

 

[ZZMitch]

Huh, tensions are probably very high on the Korean Peninsula right now

 

[ezekial45]

You have smart friends.

Yeah, I'm not taking it too seriously, but she has seen some crazy shit when it comes to SK's preparedness for any conflict for NK.

 

[chaostrophy]

Another cap from CNN:

So when's the auction of furnishings from Kim Jong Il's house?

 

[(._.)]

Holy fuck if this is true. No idea what North Korea will do.

 

[_woLf]

Random fact of the day: Kim Jong-il travelled by train because he was terrified of flying. He died on Dec. 17 while riding a train.

 

[Shalashaska]

Huh. One of my friends made a reference to North Korea a few minutes ago, now I know why.

 

[lastplayed]

Present!

Oh shit. Now go sort 'em out!

 

[Dreams-Visions]

1. His son takes over and things stay mostly the same in North Korea.

International community won't let that happen.

2. His son can't keep the generals in line and they get rid of him. Things continue as they were, but without one true figurehead.

The former is likely, but the later is unikely. The figure-head is what kept the people in line. Without him, I expect things will begin to unravel.

3. His son can't keep power and the nation collapses under a coup attempt or unraveling of some sort. This could be very messy.

Likely.

4. North Korea begins a slow process of opening up to the world, ala Burma/Myanmar.

after #2 or #3, I suppose. gonna be a system-shock for the NK residents.

 

[| Praxis |]

While we are on the subject, this is a great little documentary.

The Vice Guide to North Korea:
Part 1

 

[Kinyou]

I wonder if his son can lead a whole country

 

[ChiTownBuffalo]

Kim Jong Iller than we all thought.

Yay! Hooray!

 

[UnluckyKate]

BBC news right now : " Before he was Kim Jong Very Il "

Uh...

Spoiler

I laugh

 

[ItAintEasyBeinCheesy]

Dayum. Time for Mecha-Jong powered by Cognac.

 

[Previous]

Guy being interviewed on the BBC just said that after his stroke he became "Kim Jong Very Ill".

Hmm.

Did he say something about Howard Sterns nut sack after that?

 

[MikeTyson]

looking at fruit juice

 

[ChiTownBuffalo]

Next up, Kim Jong Un-prepared to take the reins!

 

[vulva]

 

[Maxim726X]

Hitchens will get a shock as he lines up at Heaven's gates to see the Dear Leader materialise into view.

Fuuuck I had no idea Hitchens passed away.

... From esophageal cancer, no less. I lost someone I care about to that disease only a year ago. Absolutely tore him apart. What a terrible disease.

 

[Joel Was Right]

I'm going to bed. If mods could take over OP updating roles I'd appreciate that.

 

[ProfessorMoran]

Breaking news. Will update OP when more information arrives.

From AP:



Sky News:



His son, Kim Jong-un, is expected to succeed him. He reportedly died of pancreatic cancer although this cannot be confirmed due to the secretive nature of the state.

Yonhap



BBC



Yonhap



KCNA

Hope he fucking rots in hell and the cancer caused him immense, unspeakable, infinite amount of pain while it eats away at him before he fucking expired.

 

[bengraven]

This picture is so captionable.

 

[789shadow]

Oh snap, now what.