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| North Korea News |
A brief official statement details that Kim Jong Il died on December 17 around 8:30 am local time during a train journey. The North Korean regime began to prepare the succession of the "Dear Leader" in September 2008 when he suffered a stroke that greatly weakened his health.
Kim, who was general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the National Defence Commission and supreme commander of the KPA, "received medical treatment for a long time because of his heart problems and stroke," according to North Korea's official news agency, KCNA.
According to the agency, myocardial infarction was the result of "the great physical and mental stress that had caused its continued leadership in favor of building a prosperous nation." The funeral will be held on December 28 and national mourning will last until the next day.
Although in his recent visits to China and Russia, Kim had been in good health, have been increasingly frequent occurrences of his heir, who was appointed in September 2010, Vice President of the Central Military Commission of the Workers Party, and high-ranking general.
"The great successor"
The young successor - believed that Kim Jong Un is less than 28 years old - takes the reins of a monolithic country. Citing a statement from the Central Committee and Central Military Commission of the single party, the National Defense Commission, the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly and the Government, KCNA noted that now the "Korean revolution" is led by the youngest son of Kim Jong Il.
Kim Jong Un is "the great successor to the revolutionary cause of Juche and the outstanding leader of our Party, our army and our people," he stressed. "All party members, the military and the people must faithfully follow the leadership of Comrade Kim Jong Un and protect and further strengthen the united front of the party, army and people," he added.
KCNA has proclaimed the immortality of the "revolutionary achievements" of Kim Jong Il and said that his son and successor is "another great man" who knows lead and drive the revolution in the way "wiser" and frustrate "the maneuvers of the imperialists. "
"Indescribable pain"
The official agency has ensured that all North Koreans "suffer unspeakable pain to have received the sad news of the death of Comrade Kim Jong Il." This pain will "strength and courage to overcome the current difficulties and work harder for victory," he added.
Public television has been broadcasting images of North Koreans constantly supposedly shocked by the death of their leader and beating their chests to express grief, images accompanied by a solemn funeral music, according to Yonhap news agency.
A North Korean who fled his country, Yonhap said, according to his contacts have told the State Security Department has banned the formation of groups of more than five people in the streets.
A few hours after it knew of the death, Pyongyang tested a short-range missile on its east coast. However, an official Yonhap quoted South Korean has indicated that it believed that the two events are related.
ALERT IN SOUTH KOREA
Before this release, the Joint Chiefs of South Korea had put on alert to all military units. Sources quoted by Yonhap said that the combined forces of South Korea and the U.S. had increased the control of military activities in the North Korean border.
The last time Seoul raised the level of surveillance over its neighbor was in November 2010, when Pyongyang shelled the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, located near the maritime border between the two Koreas.
In addition, Seoul, South Korea has ordered not to travel to North Korea, with the exception of inter-Korean industrial complex in Kaesong, on the border between the two countries, as a precaution.
Meanwhile, South Korean President Lee Myung Bak has ordered the Government to ensure that the death of Kim Jong Il is not a threat to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, according to his spokesman.
Lee gave these instructions during an emergency cabinet meeting. Sucoreano Finance Minister, Bahk Jae Wan, has predicted that the news will increase the uncertainty in the short term, while his country is "fully prepared" and remain calm during "what might happen in North Korea."
Representatives of the United Democratic Party, in opposition in South Korea has asked the Government to send a condolence delegation to North Korea, but it seems that Lee is willing. South Korea did not formally offered his condolences over the death of Kim's father, Kim Il Sung, when he died in the summer of 1994, which deteriorated over the years the relations between the two countries.
Reactions
The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has expressed his wish that Kim's death does not affect their "friendly relations" with North Korea and has said that Russia offered to cooperate "closely" with South Korea ensuring peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.
The Government of China, Pyongyang's main ally, has sent his condolences to the South Koreans, has expressed confidence in Kim Jong Un and has pledged his support to the neighboring country in these times of uncertainty.
"We are confident that the North Korean people will fulfill the will of Comrade Kim Jong Il and be united around the Korean Workers' Party under the leadership of Comrade Kim Jong Un will turn your anxiety into strength," added the executive.
United Kingdom, meanwhile, hopes that the death of the leader is a "tipping point" and that the country opts for "peace and security" in the region resuming six-party talks on its nuclear program, Pyongyang suspended in April 2009.
"We hope that their new leader recognizes that the international community's commitment to offering the best prospect of improving the lives of North Koreans," stressed the British foreign secretary, William Hague, in a statement.
France expressed its hope that North Korea might "one day regain his freedom" and expressed its solidarity with the North Koreans after "too many years of misery and deprivation of human rights."
In a statement, the French Foreign Ministry has expressed its "hope to see a positive evolution of the North Korean regime, either in the plane of the system of liberties, the stability of the peninsula or respect its international obligations on non- nuclear proliferation. "
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has expressed his "sincere regret" for the death of "Comrade" Kim Jong Il. The Foreign Ministry said in a note that has "full confidence in the ability of Koreans to conduct their own future-prosperity and peace."
