# 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:** 2
**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, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/22 "2011-12-19T03:38:16Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > That was the same argument that was raised when his father died. Except that Kim Jong-Il was 52 when he took power. His son is in his 20’s. ---
**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, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/23 "2011-12-19T03:41:30Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > His son is in his 20’s. BBC just said 30. Not that it makes _that_ much difference. A whelp’s a whelp. The South Korean stock exchange has reportedly fallen 5% in the hour. Kim’s [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Jong-il) page has already listed the death as December 17 and – ominously perhaps – listed his successor as TBD (“to be determined”). ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/24 "2011-12-19T03:41:54Z")
The King is dead! Long live the King! But who is the new leader? ---
**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, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/25 "2011-12-19T03:43:56Z")
The front page BBC article says; “His designated successor is believed to be his third son, Kim Jong-un, who is thought to be in his late 20s.” The North Korean Military declared an Emergency. So have the South Koreans. ---
**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, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/26 "2011-12-19T03:44:26Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Except that Kim Jong-Il was 52 when he took power. His son is in his 20’s. That would be a good point if some of us didn’t actually remember 1982. Western analysts did not view Kim Jong Il’s succession as a foregone conclusion, and it was family ties that ensured it. I see no reason that family ties should not also prevail now. As above, we’ll see. Honestly, I’ll be a lot more worried if control of the country goes to someone from the older generation. ---
**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, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/27 "2011-12-19T03:46:37Z")
Funeral arrangements have been announced. Pyongyang, December 28. ---
**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, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/28 "2011-12-19T03:47:22Z")
As I said in the other thread (GD), I expect a wave of “retirements”, “car accidents” and “died of grief over the loss of the Dear Leader”. Probably will be a little bloody behind the scenes until it all shakes out. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/29 "2011-12-19T03:48:45Z")
Kim Jong-Un is any other would-be leader’s ticket to legitimacy. I would imagine he’d be a useful figurehead no matter who’s actually calling the shots. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/30 "2011-12-19T03:50:08Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Are you _shitting_ me? I seriously was just about to add him to my Death Pool list. Christ. > [@Mahaloth](#): > > Was on my death pool for next year. That rat fink! Now I have to update my list! :mad: Honestly, every time I pick someone I’m sure of, they go and die early. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/31 "2011-12-19T03:50:22Z")
{Corrected post; see below.} ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/32 "2011-12-19T03:51:07Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > “physical and mental overwork,” Scoring so many holes-in-one takes it out of a man. North Korea’s only website seems to be down. A shame as I was looking forward to witnessing the horrifying expressions of grief like when Kim Il-Sung died. Or perhaps he ran that too. Or maybe he was just il. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/33 "2011-12-19T03:54:02Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > BBC TV just showed the news clip of a weeping woman in a black kimono announcing the news on state TV. It’s a hanbok, not a kimono. Anyway, it’s now 12:52 p.m., Monday here in South Korea. The school lunch break began at 12:30 p.m. As soon as we teachers returned to our offices, we got the news. The entire school is abuzz. Many think that this will bring forward reunification. I, on the other hand, agree with a friend who’s a retired South Korean Navy officer, that there will never be reunification. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/34 "2011-12-19T03:54:32Z")
[Corrected link](http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/north-korean-leader-kim-jong-il-69-died-15185617) ---
**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, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/35 "2011-12-19T03:54:50Z")
Yeah, not in our lifetimes anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/36 "2011-12-19T03:54:53Z")
[Nelson] HAW-haw! ---
**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, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/37 "2011-12-19T03:55:12Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Scoring so many holes-in-one takes it out of a man. Well, if even a tenth of the rumors of all the nubile young females who were rounded up for his enjoyment were true, he must have scored a lot of holes-in-one indeed. 😉 > [@Monty](#): > > It’s a hanbok, not a kimono. Ah yes. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/38 "2011-12-19T03:56:21Z")
It’s very possible that this will lead to the collapse of the North Korean regime. Word is that even the elite troops and police the regime depends upon to maintain itself in power are having a harder and harder time staying warm and getting enough to eat. Nobody has any real confidence in or respect for Kim Jong Il’s doofus son, and believe it or not there are other factions competing for power. [It’s not a question of if. It’s a question of when.](http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/korea/articles/20111215.aspx) I can’t help wondering how many of the big shots are running for the exits right now. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/39 "2011-12-19T03:57:05Z")
Reunification my arse. This news makes me extremely nervous. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/40 "2011-12-19T03:57:58Z")
Could be very very good, could be very very VERY bad. Hopefully some of those still in high places will have learned something about having a raving lunatic megalomaniac in absolute power and use this as an opportunity for serious reform. Or it’ll just be business as usual for another five decades. One thing, get ready for days of footage of manipulated, ignorant, pathetic people screaming & shrieking in sorrow for an evil mass-murderer’s death… ---
**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, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705/41 "2011-12-19T04:00:45Z")
Beat you to it. [Thread already here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=635437). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kim-jong-il-is-dead/606705.md?page=3)