Seems like that the "Great Leader" is more lonely (RONREY ) than usual so he is stepping down:
From the LA TIMES:
quote:
Clinton says North Korea's Kim Jong Il may step down soon
The secretary of State says the U.S. and allies are trying to figure out how to respond to a change of power. Experts fear a new regime could be even more belligerent.
By Paul Richter 6:40 PM PST, February 19, 2009
Reporting from Seoul -- Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday that U.S. officials and allies were scrambling to prepare for the possible departure from power of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, a development she said threatened increased turbulence in one of the world's most heavily armed regions.
Arriving in Seoul for security talks, Clinton said persistent signs within the secretive Pyongyang government suggested that a change of leadership might be at hand. She said the South Korean government had been especially concerned about possible developments inside its impoverished northern neighbor.
(...) But Clinton's comments suggested that there is now a widespread conviction that Kim is on the way out, and that the South Koreans, Chinese, Americans and others are formulating plans on how to deal with the successor regime.
Signs of disarray in the North have included the firing this year of the defense minister and the military chief of staff. The promotion of one of Kim's three sons was announced and then withdrawn, U.S. officials noticed.
Some observers see another clue in the sudden breakdown of multinational talks over dismantlement of Pyongyang's nuclear program, and believe the regime's belligerent new tone may reflect the influence of emerging leaders.
Analysts have offered various possibilities about what the new leadership might look like. Some say that Kim's brother-in-law, or one of his three sons, could be a part of a new ruling group, but perhaps only as a figurehead.
(...) One of Clinton's goals in her one-day visit to Seoul is to convince the beleaguered government of President Lee Myung-bak that the United States intends to stand up to the North, despite its promises that it will seek greater diplomatic engagement with adversary regimes.
Lee, a conservative, has incurred the wrath of the North by cutting off cash aid on grounds that Pyongyang is not living up to its commitments to the North-South peace effort. Many analysts believe that the North's recent threatening behavior has been aimed at undermining Lee, who is also in trouble politically at home because of the damaging effects of the world economic crisis in South Korea.
Clinton will fly to Beijing on Friday for talks with the Chinese government...
(...) U.S. officials believe the Chinese have influence with their smaller neighbor, and want Beijing to try to force more cooperation.
Kim Jong Il's probably been dead for awhile already. The man'd never abdicate his seat of absolute power if it were up to him. Communist dictators don't do that, it's dangerous.
If true, this could be bad depending on who takes over in the inevitable power grab. A crazy personality cult might be preferable to a nuclear armed military dictatorship. At least Kim's ego and cowardice were a deterrent.
North Korea: Something should be done, but I hope it can wait till me and mine are gone,lol.
An update: he just tapped his youngest son-Kim Jong Un- to take over.
From the TIMES of the UK:
quote:
Kim Jong Il anoints next leader of North Korea - his youngest son Richard Lloyd Parry in Tokyo From The Times February 20, 2009
It is one of the most powerful and dangerous jobs in the world and, for decades, foreign politicians, academics and spies have speculated over who will one day succeed to it. It brings with it absolute power over 24 million people, the command of a fanatical, nuclear-equipped army of a million men and a brutal state security apparatus. And yesterday the man who is likely to inherit it emerged from the shadows – a little-known 25-year-old with a European education and fondness for sushi, German cars and baseball.
Reports from North and South Korea yesterday appeared to confirm what until now has been only rumour – that Kim Jong Un, the youngest son of the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Il, is being lined up to inherit his father’s title. It would be the second hereditary succession in the last remaining totalitarian communist dictatorship – and sets the scene for a period of extreme instability in one of the world’s most unpredictable countries.
One of his closest and most hardline generals yesterday promised the army’s loyalty to the “bloodline” of the senior Mr Kim, a virtual guarantee that one of his children will succeed him.“We will firmly carry on the blood-line of Mangyongdae and Mount Paektu with our guns, faithfully upholding the leadership of our supreme commander,” Pak Jae Kyong, a senior general of the North Korean Defence Ministry, was quoted in the state media as having(...)
The South Korean news agency Yonhap quoted sources in Beijing saying that Jong Un has registered as a candidate in elections on March 8 for North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly – the precursor to his public emergence as his father’s successor.
Originally posted by Canuck_Centaur: And yesterday the man who is likely to inherit it emerged from the shadows – a little-known 25-year-old with a European education and fondness for sushi, German cars and baseball.
That sucks. At least Kim Il Sung had the sense to buy American cars.
There no poof to say he is alive or not. i still think he still alive. But on another note Clinton and any one else who thinks he going to step down need to really see the big picture. He lives like a movie star there and to step down would give up all his power. I doubt he will unless he dies or get killed ether one. Then I bet one of his son's the ones we know nothing about will probably step in with a limited power thanks to the generals.
) than usual so he is stepping down:
