# Kim Jong-il Is Dead **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 19, 2011, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705 "2011-12-19T03:10:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/1 "2011-12-19T03:10:45Z")
BBC is reporting that North Korea’s Kim Jong-il has died! From “physical and mental overwork,” according to state television. Announced moments ago. Died on Saturday morning. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/2 "2011-12-19T03:12:50Z")
Are you _shitting_ me? I seriously was just about to add him to my Death Pool list. Christ. Er, I mean, I will be interested in the ramifications for North Korea, and of course that’s what’s most important. Edit: Also, in one of those weird coincidences, I just added his name to an index I’m working on, not ten seconds before seeing this post. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/3 "2011-12-19T03:13:26Z")
I just saw this. Very interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/4 "2011-12-19T03:13:33Z")
Was on my death pool for next year. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/5 "2011-12-19T03:21:59Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > BBC is reporting that North Korea’s Kim Jong-il has died! From “physical and mental overwork,” Kind of like John Henry, But in il’s case I’m sure he was moving a mountain out of the way , to provide more sunshine to his people, rather than just digging a tunnel in it. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/6 "2011-12-19T03:22:04Z")
Well, this should be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/7 "2011-12-19T03:22:08Z")
I’ve found it at the [Globe and Mail](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/north-korean-leader-kim-jong-il-dead-at-69/article2275701/), and the [Washington Post](http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korea-says-its-leader-kim-jong-il-has-died-in-pyongyang/2011/12/18/gIQAyH2N3O_story.html), both off the Associated Press wire. Wow, indeed! ---
**Author:** ![Willcross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Willcross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Willcross)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/8 "2011-12-19T03:22:17Z")
Any ideas on what the future holds? Is this a good thing or a bad thing overall? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/9 "2011-12-19T03:23:25Z")
NYT confirms, saying it’s from North Korean TV. I’m not expecting much in the way of change, though I’d love to be surprised. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/10 "2011-12-19T03:24:07Z")
BBC TV just showed the news clip of a weeping woman in a black kimono announcing the news on state TV. It’s real. They waited 48 hours to announce it. BBC is scrambling to put out analyses. Considering the early hour in London, they must be waking up many of these experts who are speaking by phone. What a shame Christopher Hitchens JUST missed his chance to write an obituary. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/11 "2011-12-19T03:25:11Z")
I have to wonder. As I have heard, the generals and other important folks in North Korea don’t care much for Junior. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/12 "2011-12-19T03:26:28Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > They waited 48 hours to announce it. Probably had to decide whether to announce who put the pillow over his face. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/13 "2011-12-19T03:28:04Z")
Just put him on my DP list today too. This is going to be very very interesting. His son is too young and inexperienced and doesn’t have the web of family and allies his father does. Well, ok, it is the same Family, as one of his aunts (Jong-Il’s sister) is married to the second most powerful man in the country and stuff like that, which won’t necessarily transfer over to an untrained whelp like him. The next set of things added here should be interesting too; > **[Kim Jong-Il looking at things](https://kimjongillookingatthings.tumblr.com/)** > > The Dear Leader liked to look at things. Good night, sweet prince. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/14 "2011-12-19T03:29:23Z")
Well, he fulfilled every tyrant’s ambition, he held onto power until the end. What’s Korean for _Apres moi, le deluge?_ ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/15 "2011-12-19T03:30:22Z")
[AP News story](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_KOREA_KIM_JONG_IL?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-12-18-22-12-29). ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/16 "2011-12-19T03:30:26Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > His son is too young and inexperienced and doesn’t have the web of family and allies his father does. That was the same argument that was raised when his father died. We’ll see. He’s with Jesus now. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/17 "2011-12-19T03:30:49Z")
Holy crap! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/18 "2011-12-19T03:31:21Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > He’s with Jesus now. Pretty sure he isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/19 "2011-12-19T03:31:26Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > He’s with Jesus now. Let’s go down to the quarry and throw some shit down there. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/20 "2011-12-19T03:33:13Z")
What’s next? We pull out the popcorn and wait through the inevitable wave of “retirements” and “car accidents” and “died of a heart attack out of grief over the loss of the Dear Leader” and see who rises to the top. Pretty sure it won’t be the third son. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705.md?page=2)