NationStates Jolt Archive

Amid speculation that North Korea's "Dear Leader was seriously ill, or perhaps even dead, the government of NK released a picture showing Kim inspecting a military unit. Now some are saying that the photo is an obvious forgery.

Link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7715458.stm)

There is fresh speculation about the health of North Korea's "Dear Leader" Kim Jong-il, amid suggestions that an image of Mr Kim may have been doctored.

The image, released on Wednesday, appeared to show Mr Kim in good health while inspecting two military units.

But an analysis by the UK's Times newspaper highlighted incongruities around the leader's legs, and the BBC found what look like mismatched pixels.

It has given new life to suggestions Mr Kim may be seriously unwell.

"They go into ostrich mode so readily - because they have given no clue about what would happen without him," North Korea expert Dr Aidan Foster-Carter told the BBC.

Unlike the previous handover of power from the Great Leader Kim Il-sung to his son - which was planned and made public decades in advance - there has been no public announcement about who will succeed Kim Jong-il, 66.

Here is the photo in question

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_enl_1226068703/img/laun.jpg

but when you examine the the photo around Kim Jong-il

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_enl_1226068703/img/1.jpg

So, what say you wise prophets of the internet?

Undead. He's a zombie. Somehow appropriate given that Communism has been so long in the grave but lives on in the ideology of the North Korean state.

EDIT: And yeh, that photo looks fake. Why would you do that if he wasn't dead?

He's blatantly dead.

Who.. cares?

Who.. cares?

:eek: Are you saying you don't care about our Glorious Leader!

*Sends to Khadgar work camp*

:eek: Are you saying you don't care about our Glorious Leader!

*Sends to Khadgar work camp*

I just can't fathom DPRK changing much based on whether that particularly asswipe lives or dies.

Who.. cares?Communist are people, too! :eek:
(Even though I voted for us to just nuke the damn place already. Way too much trouble.)


:D

Kim Jong not dead. But Kim Jong-Ill.

The Chinese have been cloning him for years, much like we've been cloning Castro.

He'll be back, just wait.

he's actually out on a secret tour to spread the glorious righteous ideals of juche to the oppressed peoples of the world. for example:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3061/3010499649_260fe858ab_o.jpg

What does being dead have to do with anything? Kim Il-Sung has been dead for over a decade, but constitutionally, he's still the president.

Are we actually sure that he ever existed?

When Bobby Lee suddenly vanishes off the face of the earth coinciding with another "public appearance" of Dear Leader, then we know Kim Jong-Il is seriously ill or dead.

:D

Hes alive. When he dies, we'll know because the military will stage a coup and be in control.

I say we have LG lead an army of clowns to conquer North Korea.

I say we have LG lead an army of clowns to conquer North Korea.

Except everyone knows the North Korean border is thick with minefields. But once you get past those, the real horror starts when an invading army encounters North Korean mimefields.

Anyone know if Kim Jong-Il has any kids? I'm curious as to who would succeed him.

Anyone know if Kim Jong-Il has any kids? I'm curious as to who would succeed him.

Whoever gets the military's backing.

He's dead. He's been dead for a few weeks by now.

He's dead. He's been dead for a few weeks by now.

If he was dead, the military would have taken over by now.

Hes alive. When he dies, we'll know because the military will stage a coup and be in control.

that's the point. if they can "fake" his health to be good, then that delays any coup.

Gods, I'm picturing them doing a 'Weekend at Bernies' with Kim Jong-Il or a lookalike to keep people thinking he's ok.

His undead corpse is keeping the military in check. Not even death can stop Dear Leader!

If he was dead, the military would have taken over by now.
I'm not so sure. North Korea doesn't seem to be a military junta so much as a dictatorship with a cult of personality taken to the extreme.

If he was dead, the military would have taken over by now.

More then likely they are waiting to see the results of what ever rounds of the 6 party talks they are on. Sort of like the soviet union and waiting to announce Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko's death to wait and see how the UK or US would respond in talks (weather a hardliner or soft liner would be needed)

His undead corpse is keeping the military in check. Not even death can stop Dear Leader!

Zombie Reagan can stop him!

http://www.zombiereagan.com/street/portrait.jpg

I read in the Australian that he had a stroke so half his body was paralized. This would make it difficult because you have a living disabled dictator. If anyone killed this person needing constant medical care they too would die. But then again he isnt really in command if he needs help to move about

Zombie Reagan can stop him!

not if the ghost of taft gets there first

not if the ghost of taft gets there first

Taft? Really? Even if he is a ghost I don't think he could get anywhere fast. :p

Taft? Really? Even if he is a ghost I don't think he could get anywhere fast. :p

It's obvious that the job must go to Robot Nixon then.
http://media.ebaumsworld.com/mediaFiles/picture/543682/730427.gif

No idea.

I'm not so sure. North Korea doesn't seem to be a military junta so much as a dictatorship with a cult of personality taken to the extreme.

True, however when that Cult of personality has no real successor, and there isnt a party to elect a new leader such as was the case in post-Stalin Soviet Russia, who else is going to take over?

Especially when your country is really only held together and your people held in check via the military?

Kim Jong not dead. But Kim Jong-Ill.

I can't believe I actually loled at this:p!

Taft? Really? Even if he is a ghost I don't think he could get anywhere fast. :p

but if he is in the way you aren't getting around him.

Not dead, but dying. So now they're pretending he's good, while they're trying to sort out who succeeds him. I'm a fan of the theory that he doesn't think any of his sons are good enough, so he'll hand over to a council of leaders from the party, the military and so on.

Of course, those will be at each other's throats in no time flat...

Dead, but no-one will notice the difference anyway.

Nature doesn't lie; those shadows are wrong, and that photo's gotta be fake.

Except everyone knows the North Korean border is thick with minefields. But once you get past those, the real horror starts when an invading army encounters North Korean mimefields.

A mime is a terrible thing to waste. :(

The Kim is dead. Long live the Kim!

Hes alive. When he dies, we'll know because the military will stage a coup and be in control.
Maybe it just did behind the scenes and now is sorting out which Kim they can present as a figurehead?

Anyone know if Kim Jong-Il has any kids? I'm curious as to who would succeed him.
Yes, he has quite some children.
The most likely successor is Kim Jong-chul, Kim Jong-il's second son. But his oldest son, Kim Jong-nam is also a possibility.

Hes alive. When he dies, we'll know because the military will stage a coup and be in control.

That's Zimbabwe :P. North Korea will just seat someone else to the throne, probably a son of his.

True, however when that Cult of personality has no real successor, and there isnt a party to elect a new leader such as was the case in post-Stalin Soviet Russia, who else is going to take over?

Especially when your country is really only held together and your people held in check via the military?

Either he's been grooming his successor, just like Kim Il-Sung did, or he's enacting a power struggle that would, as a by-product, probably allow a child of his to assume power when he dies.

http://www.asianews.it/index.php?art=2573&l=en

EDIT: They think Kim Jong-chul has been chosen http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=11649

Kim "Big Brother" Jong-Il is likely alive, but sick.

Keep in mind that they've ordered schools to deify him. If he appeared in public hacking and coughing, that'd be bad for the public image his narcissism created.