‘Dear Leader’ of North Korea Dead

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il died on December 17, 2010, as reported by state TV 2 days later. The reclusive leader, considered (outside North Korea) to be one of the world’s top dictators, was believed to be about 69 years old.

In his country, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Kim was revered and known by such appellations as “Dear Leader” and “Our Father.” Han Park of the Center for Study of Global Issues said “The level of reverence for Kim Jong Il in North Korea is quite underestimated by the outside,” indicating that he was regarded as a superior leader and a man of high moral fiber. He added: “Whether that’s accurate is not important if you want to deal with North Korea. You have to understand their belief system. Perception is reality.”

Kim Jon Il led a life shrouded in mystery. His birthplace and date of birth are disputed. His official biography states he was born at the sacred Mount Baektu, while other research gives his place of birth as the Far Eastern region of the Soviet Union and the date of birth as February 16, 1942.

His father Kim Il Sung was the founder and first leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Groomed from an early age to succeed his father, Kim Il Sung formally designated his son as his successor in 1980. Kim Il Sung died suddenly from a heart attack at age 82 on July 8, 1994.

Reports of Kim Jong Il’s repressive practices have included strict control over the press, religious persecution, inhuman treatment of pregnant women and worse.

He was also said to have spent as much as 25% or more of his country’s gross national product on the military, while hunger was a pressing problem.

Andre Lankov, an author on Korea’s history, said: “He will be remembered as a person who was responsible for awful things: for the existence of one of the worst dictatorships in not only Korean history but the world history at least in the 20th and 21st centuries.” Lankov pointed out that Kim Jong Il did not create the North Korean dictatorship. His father did, but, Lankov said: “… he made sure it continued for many more years.”