Kim Jong-Il's death

On December 19th, North Korea's Chosun Joongang TV reported that leader Kim Jong-Il, 69, had passed away. The anchorwoman, in black clothes of mourning, emotionally reported that the leader passed away from a stroke, a result of fatigue and overwork. He passed away on a express train on December 17th at 8:30 P.M. KST.

Kim Jong-Il

While the people of North Korea are in grief, many people around the world are simultaneous happy and fearful of what this means for the future of North and South Korea. The South Korean military has been put on alert, and the National Security Council has met for an emergency meeting. Kim Jong-Il's song, Kim Jong Un, will now take over his father's role, as the leader of North Korea.

The new North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un

Personally, I am shocked that Kim Jong-Il has died. I feel ambivalent as well, and I wonder what this will bring to North Korea. Will it mean more of a military presence? How will the policies of North Korea change?

Included are two news clips. The first shows the anchorwoman of North Korea's Chosun Joongang TV emotionally announcing the leader's death. The second shows North Korean's response to their leader's death.