In typical Juche fashion, despite all his treatments, he supposedly died on the train, coming back from Russia. However, there are now doubts about that theory (with some, even going as far as to doubt his very death):
http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk01500&num=93461
http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk00100&num=93459
http://nknews.org/2011/12/where-did-kji-really-die-by-bobby
http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk00100&num=93465
Supposedly, the his personal train was in Ryongso’ng Station, and has no signs of having been used for a couple days. This implies that he may have died in his residence (or at the very least, not on the train. Unless, him and his wife were having some trouble, and he didn’t feel like sleeping on the couch).
Please compare and contrast deaths of various dictators for reference:
http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk00100&num=93472
http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk00100&num=93471
The funeral and wake took place, and here are some pictures:
http://dprk.blog.hexun.com/71506747_d.html
http://dprk.blog.hexun.com/71518056_d.html
http://nkleadershipwatch.wordpress.com/2011/12/20/kim-jong-un-attends-kjis-wake
KJI’s body is encased in glass:
http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk03100&num=93457
Just like other leaders of Communist nations, like, Mao, Ze-Dong
http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk00100&num=93466
Just like his father, In any case, KJU’s deification has begun:
http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk01500&num=93475
Then, there are some South Koreans protesting, saying the South Korean government shouldn’t send their condolences. However, a group from the south, consisting of Unification Minister, Ryoo, Woo-Ik, and others, was denied release to visit the North. However, possibly, close relatives of former South Korean president, the late Kim, Dae-Jung and former and Hyundai Group CEO, Cho’ng, Mong-Ho’n, might have a chance at going:
http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk00100&num=93459
http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk01500&num=93461
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/12/19/all_quiet_on_the_southern_front
Unsurprisingly, there weren’t as many assholes in China, to stop Hu, Jintao going to the funeral. In fact, it seems like there are more Chinese that care about the North Koreans and worried about what they’re going through, than their southern brethren. So will the simple respects the Chinese give the North Koreans, translate into deeper relations between the two countries in years to come?
Now, everyone’s guessing as to what will be North Korea’s future with KJU:
http://nknews.org/2011/12/a-new-korea-under-kim-jong-un
http://nknews.org/2011/12/kcna-cites-party-organs-before-national-defense-commission-by-choson-exchange
http://38north.org/2011/12/bbabson122011
http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/north-korea-nukes
From discussing his sparse experience in power, how he’ll deal with the military, to of course, the nuclear issue.
Most insightful of all though, is this list of “10 People You need to Know for Transition in North Korea”:
http://blog.keia.org/2011/12/10-people-you-need-to-know-for-transition-in-north-korea via NKNews
And this this video:
UPDATE: December 21, 2011
KJU gave his first orders, stopping all military exercises for the funeral:
http://nkleadershipwatch.wordpress.com/2011/12/21/kim-jong-un-ordered-suspension-of-military-training-after-kji-death
The 13 South Koreans who were part of the ManWolDae excavation team returned home on Tuesday, December 13th:
http://nknews.org/2011/12/inter-korean-project-to-go-ahead
BusinessWeek states the obvious: North Korea is hard to spy on. Won, Se-hoon, head of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) didn’t even know of Kim, Jong-Il’s death until the news hit, but it doesn’t stop people from blaming him for “not doing his job well”. It seems however, he is at least redeeming himself, by revealing the statement that the late Kim died on a train due stress and being overworked, becase the train never left Ryongso’ng Station.
More predictions on what Kim, Jong-un will do to consolidate power, and North Korea’s future:
http://nknews.org/2011/12/outlook-for-kim-jong-un-4-stories
http://nknews.org/2011/12/reform-and-stability-in-north-korea-by-andray-abrahamian
http://www.nti.org/gsn/article/north-korea-plans-shared-leadeship
http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk04120&num=93479
http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk06100&num=93488
http://38north.org/2011/12/rfrank122111
In this situation, the Worker’s Party took over. In a highly symbolic move, it acted like the Church in medieval Europe: it crowned the Emperor. The obituary, published in the Party newspaper and signed by the Central Committee, devotes its latter part to the introduction of Kim Jong Un as the next leader—as the “great successor” (widaehan kyesŭngja). This is the first time he has been explicitly named as such. Note also that the complete sentence says he is the great successor to the revolutionary cause of chuch’e—not sŏn’gun. This is an emphasis on ideology, the realm of the Party. The Military First Policy is duly mentioned, but it does not stand at the center.
More PRC-DPRK relations to come:
http://nknews.org/2011/12/china’s-response-to-kim’s-death-1994-and-2011-by-sarah-yun
Above, there were 10 people to follow, now there are 10 issues to follow:
http://nknews.org/2011/12/10-issues-to-follow-after-kim-jong-il-by-troy-stangarone
All eyes are on Kim, Jo’ng-U’n’s uncle, Jang, So’ng-thaek, and Ri, Yo’ng-Ho:
http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk05000&num=93481
How exactly will they step in?
More pictures of mourners:
http://nknews.org/2011/12/sea-of-mourners-gather-in-north-korean-capital
http://dprk.blog.hexun.com/71539730_d.html
http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk03100&num=93497
http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk03100&num=93485
http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk03100&num=93483
http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk00100&num=93494
Slight controversy (aside from the number of attendees), there were no black arm bands:
http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk04500&num=93487
When Kim, Il-So’ng passed away, everyone had an arm band on. This is something standard in Korean funerals, honoring the deceased. Now that there are no arm bands for Kim, Jong-Il, is he trying to imply that Kim, Jong-il is not deceased but always with us?
김옥(Kim, Ok), believed to be Kim, Jo’ng-Il’s last concubine, bows first to Kim, Jo’ng-U’n:
http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk03100&num=93490
Some people are saying Kim, Jo’ng-il’s body was embalmed:
http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk00100&num=93489
Since a cryogenic freeze over a body costs millions of dollars, even for Americans, embalming sounds like a more economic solution.
In the midst of all this, guess what’s in the news?
http://www.northkoreatech.org/2011/12/22/whats-on-north-korean-tv-and-radio
Yeah, but also, North Korean markets are closed, but it’s not stopping the little guy from trying to make a buck:
http://www.dailynk.com/korean/read.php?cataId=nk04120&num=93479
(most likely, because the cops and everyone else enforcing the laws are at the funerals.)
UPDATE December 27, 2011
Part 2 of the post with updated links.
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