North Korean Developments

[George Wallace]

What affect on the World Stage will the death of Kim Jong Il have, if his health fails in the near future?  Will a more despotic Dictator take over the reigns, or will this be an opportunity for the Reunification of the two Korea's?  Could it lead to a destabilization of the Nuclear Threat in the Far East, or a solution?

North Korea: Kim Jong Il's heart , liver problems continue
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/newsbriefs/story.html?id=51f684c5-fae9-4bce-ac75-b02353ce354b

Leader Kim Jong Il's health has worsened and he can no longer walk normally, a South Korean legislator said yesterday. Liver and heart problems and worsening diabetes are to blame for the reclusive Communist leader's difficulty in walking, opposition legislator Chung Hyung-keun said at a party meeting, according to his office. He said Mr. Kim had gone to a top hospital in Beijing for treatment when he travelled to China in January. "Kim has a secretary who follows him with a chair as the North Korean leader has to sit and rest after walking some 20 to 30 metres," Mr. Chung said at the meeting in Gyeongju, southeast of Seoul.

 

[larry Strong]

Are there any more of the clan lurking in the wings, did the Baby Kim have any kids to pass on the "Leader for Life" title?

 

[AJFitzpatrick]

Kim II Sung had another son Kim Pyong-il
Also
Kim Jong-il has two sons and one daughter
Kim Jong-nam (b. 1971), Kim Jong-chui (b. 1981) and Kim Sul-Song (b. 1974)

 

[tomahawk6]

He has several sons but I dont see any of them being acceptable to the Party unless they need a front man. North Korea hopefully will implode at some point unless the PRC is able to control the transition of power toward a system like China has adopted. Basically communism light. Until that happens North Korea's biggest threat is as a proliferator.