Reuters reports that Kim Jong Il of North Korea has pancreatic cancer.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has pancreatic cancer and the illness is life-threatening, South Korean broadcaster YTN said on Monday based on information gathered by Chinese and South Korean intelligence sources.
Kim’s health is one of the most closely guarded secrets in the reclusive communist state. Kim, 67, was widely thought to have suffered a stroke last year, but there has never been official confirmation.
The survival rate for pancreatic cancer essentially amounts to not good.
Frankly, I couldn’t care less about Kim’s impending death as far as he is concerned. I am worried about the situation in North Korea should he die soon, however. Kim has tried to pass along the family business of hereditary boutique stalinist dictatorship by anointing his son as heir apparent.
I don’t recall another third generation stalinist state leader. A civil war in North Korea worries me a lot.
With missiles and nuclear weapons, I think we should have cause to be concerned.
I don’t think there’d be a civil war, per se. More like a military revolt that removes Kim III from power or turns him into a puppet. Honestly, it depends on how much the generals have bought into the “party line” and see their future vested in the fortunes of the Kim family.
What seems more likely to me is a sudden total collapse as the regime finds itself no longer able to sustain such a rickety state. Perhaps ironically, I think this is most likely to happen if the next Kim tries even a little bit of reform and loosening. That always seems to be when dictatorships fall apart.
Given all things, a civil war would be a “cause for deep concern” to say the least. We all agree that the possibility exists for nuclear materials to leave the country, etc etc.
But y’know what…
I simply cannot concieve of ANYTHING worse than the continuation of that satanic regime. Anything. The longer it goes on, the more WMD’s we have to worry about when it does go kablooey.
Let’s get it over with now, while the stockpile is as low as it will ever be from here forward. If armies have to secure the borders from refugee outflow, do it and refuse to apologize for it. Their circumstances are the farthest thing from our, or South Korea’s fault. (China, of course, cannot say the same.) If the Chinese have to invade to stabilize the place, let’s throw a banquet for the PLA leaders when all is said and done.
ANYTHING is better than that monstrous, evil blot on humanity that is today’s, and yesterday’s, North Korea.
Bring it on.
(It’s funny, I re-read the above, and sort of feel bad for my unambiguous harshness, etc. Then I remember, words like “blot on humanity” etc are EXACTLY how they have been referring to us and Japan for decade after decade after decade. Every single solitary day. Every day.
Eff ‘em. Bring it on, and sow salt over their graves. Fed up, am I.)
When the current Kim kicks the bucket, look for things to remain about the same. The generals are already in-charge and have been all along. The Dear Leader is their puppet and so will be the next figure head. They like it that way, it gives them cover to do anything they want, and it keeps a ready fool on stage to take the blame when things go sour.
The military gets the lion’s share of the country’s resources and if the people don’t get enough to eat, they can always complain to the little guy.
Kin knows his days are numbered. Maybe he’d like to take a big part of South Korea or Japan with him. What’s he got to lose? A few months … A year … I wouldn’t put it past that crazy S.O.B. the dear leader.