North Korean leader Kim Jong Il dies after heart attack

Asian stock markets fell today after news came out that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has died. He suffered a heart attack and couldn’t be saved despite the use of “every possible first-aid measure”, according to North Korea’s state-run KCNA news agency. A tearful broadcaster reported that Kim Jong Il died due to “overwork” after “dedicating his life to the people”, announced CNN.  Kim Jong Un (pictured), the dictator’s youngest son, has already been appointed as the “great successor” by North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party.

Following the announcement, the region is on alert amid fears of instability in the poor and isolated nuclear-armed nation. There have also been unconfirmed reports from South Korean news agency Yonhap that the North had test-fired a missile off its eastern coast before the announcement of Kim Jong-il’s death was made, according to BBC.

All members of South Korea’s military have been placed on “emergency alert,” informs CNN. Under the alert South Korean forces will monitor North Korean troop movements closely and tighten security measures at sea, according to the same source.

Also, police across the country works on emergency work shifts. “South Korea’s concern is warranted, frankly, because an insecure North Korea could well be an even more dangerous North Korea,” a U.S. official told CNN.

Aged 69, Kim Jong Il died at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday after succeeding his father, Kim Il Song founder of the communist nation, 17 years ago. Kim Il Song also died of a heart attack at age 82.

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Who is the new “supreme leader”?

Kim Jong Il will be replaced by his youngest son, Kim Jong Un, whom North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party has dubbed the “great successor.” Very little is known about the new “supreme leader” and although he has has already been given an array of titles, it’s unclear whether he actually has any decision-making authority.

According to international media he is believed to be in his late 20’s, leading many analysts voice concerns that he is not yet ready to rule. It is likely that Kim Jong Un’s uncle, Jang Song Thaek, will rule behind the scenes as Kim Jong Un trains on the job, the global intelligence firm Stratfor said according to CNN.

The first formal mention of Kim Jong Un’s name in official state communications came just over a year ago, in October 2010, when he was promoted to the rank of four-star general just before a rare meeting of the country’s ruling party, reports CNN. He is believed to have studied in Switzerland and is thought to have English, German and possibly French language skills.

However, Kim Jong Un was not his father’s first option when considering a successor.  At one point, Kim Jong Il’s eldest son, Kim Jung Nam, was belived the top candidate to succeed his father before he fell out of favor after he got caught trying to sneak a trip to Tokyo Disneyland using a forged passport.

Simona Bazavan