Kim Jong Il ... Nut or What?
Ranked #11,163 in Culture & Society, #222,955 overall
The eccentric "Dear Leader" of North Korea
Who IS this strange little man running North Korea?!
A visionary? An Icon? A bit of a kook?
This Elvis-looking leader of North Korea could be all of these...but he's entertaining, and he leaves much to the free world to debate.
We present the facts, you decide.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, dies at age 69
12/18/11
This lens reaches the end of an era as Kim Jong Il has died. He was 69.
Kis death was announced Monday by the state television from the North Korean capital, Pyongyang.The communist country's "Dear Leader" was believed to have had diabetes and heart disease
Kim Jong Il had been groomed for 20 years to lead the communist nation founded by his guerrilla fighter-turned-politician father and built according to the principle of "juche," or self-reliance.
Few firm facts are available when it comes to North Korea, one of the most isolated countries in the world, and not much is clear about the man known as the "Dear Leader."
Soviet records indicate he was born in Siberia, in 1941.
With the peninsula divided between the Soviet-administered north and the U.S.-administered south, Kim rose to power as North Korea's first leader in 1948 while Syngman Rhee became South Korea's first president.Even before he took over as leader, there were signs the younger Kim would maintain - and perhaps exceed - his father's hard-line stance.
Kim Jong Il took over after his father died in 1994, eventually taking the posts of chairman of the National Defense Commission, commander of the Korean People's Army and head of the ruling Worker's Party while his father remained as North Korea's "eternal president."
He faithfully carried out his father's policy of "military first," devoting much of the country's scarce resources to its troops - even as his people suffered from a prolonged famine - and built the world's fifth-largest military.
Kim also sought to build up the country's nuclear arms arsenal, which culminated in North Korea's first nuclear test explosion, an underground blast conducted in October 2006. Another test came in 2009.
Kim often blamed the U.S. for his country's troubles and his regime routinely derides Washington-allied South Korea as a "puppet" of the Western superpower.
Kim was an enigmatic leader. But defectors from North Korea describe him as an eloquent and tireless orator, primarily to the military units that form the base of his support.
Disputing accounts that Kim was "peculiar," former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright characterized Kim as intelligent and well-informed, saying the two had wide-ranging discussions during her visits to Pyongyang when Bill Clinton was U.S. president.
Kim cut a distinctive, if oft ridiculed, figure. Short and pudgy at 5-foot-3, he wore platform shoes and sported a permed bouffant. Kim was said to have cultivated wide interests, including professional basketball, cars and foreign films. He reportedly produced several North Korean films as well, mostly historical epics with an ideological tinge.
credit JEAN H. LEE, AP
Kis death was announced Monday by the state television from the North Korean capital, Pyongyang.The communist country's "Dear Leader" was believed to have had diabetes and heart disease
Kim Jong Il had been groomed for 20 years to lead the communist nation founded by his guerrilla fighter-turned-politician father and built according to the principle of "juche," or self-reliance.
Few firm facts are available when it comes to North Korea, one of the most isolated countries in the world, and not much is clear about the man known as the "Dear Leader."
Soviet records indicate he was born in Siberia, in 1941.
With the peninsula divided between the Soviet-administered north and the U.S.-administered south, Kim rose to power as North Korea's first leader in 1948 while Syngman Rhee became South Korea's first president.Even before he took over as leader, there were signs the younger Kim would maintain - and perhaps exceed - his father's hard-line stance.
Kim Jong Il took over after his father died in 1994, eventually taking the posts of chairman of the National Defense Commission, commander of the Korean People's Army and head of the ruling Worker's Party while his father remained as North Korea's "eternal president."
He faithfully carried out his father's policy of "military first," devoting much of the country's scarce resources to its troops - even as his people suffered from a prolonged famine - and built the world's fifth-largest military.
Kim also sought to build up the country's nuclear arms arsenal, which culminated in North Korea's first nuclear test explosion, an underground blast conducted in October 2006. Another test came in 2009.
Kim often blamed the U.S. for his country's troubles and his regime routinely derides Washington-allied South Korea as a "puppet" of the Western superpower.
Kim was an enigmatic leader. But defectors from North Korea describe him as an eloquent and tireless orator, primarily to the military units that form the base of his support.
Disputing accounts that Kim was "peculiar," former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright characterized Kim as intelligent and well-informed, saying the two had wide-ranging discussions during her visits to Pyongyang when Bill Clinton was U.S. president.
Kim cut a distinctive, if oft ridiculed, figure. Short and pudgy at 5-foot-3, he wore platform shoes and sported a permed bouffant. Kim was said to have cultivated wide interests, including professional basketball, cars and foreign films. He reportedly produced several North Korean films as well, mostly historical epics with an ideological tinge.
credit JEAN H. LEE, AP
This link needs to be seen Next
- Comprehensive Kim Jong Il Page!
- The best page of info since "Nut or What?"
It's got facts...it's got pictures...it got links...OMG it's like the end-all of information on the Dear One, all on one page!!!
Where to find Info on the Dear Leader
Look at 'em all...then YOU decide: Nut..or What?
- Kim Jong Il on Answers.com
- Kim Jong Il...you have Questions, we've got Answers!
- Wikipedia's Kim Jong Il
- I love Wikipedia. Don't you?
Eveyrthing you want to know about every Communist Leader in the Pacific Rim is right there at your fingers.
We tracked down Kim and are pleased to share the information with you! - Better Hope Hirsch is Right!
- Journalist Michael Hirsch is not worried about Kim Jong Il testing his nuclear weapons. Atleast back in October he wasn't. Here's Why!
- Notable Names Profile
- Notable Names? Is this 'legit'?
Hmmm...look, we just report. You decide. - A breif History of Kim Jong Il
- Well...it's 160 pages in an Adobe Acrobat format...but quite the interesting read!
- Missing Portraits??
- What REALLY happened to those portraits in 2004...and what happened to the reporter to wrote this?
- The Pyongong Chronicles
- The L.A. Times and Chicago Tribune have NOTHING on this site for news and information!
- Kim Jong Il Knock Knock Blog
- Ah ha ha! Even the Dear Leader can appreciate humour in the form of Spoof. You will laugh quite hard at this foolishness, you silly Democracy-loving Westerner!
- Rotten Explanation
- Don't let the title mislead you.
The 'Rotten" library has a GREAT summation on the Dear One.
It's BLUNT, but it isn't defamatory or even inacurate!
Spot on Smart, those Rotten Librarians!!! - Books he didn't Censor in Time!
- You mean...there are books that Dish the Dirt on the Great one?!?! By his former chef, bodygaurd and/or associates?!?!?!
Here is a link to an article that discussed several. Ok, it' doesn't 'discuss' them as much as 'summarize' them...but the opening paragraphs give you a little insight into his likes and dislikes! - Kim Jong Il answers YOUR questions!
- No, no no...this is NOT a transcript from Kim's stint on the Larry King Show...but I think you'll find insight and humour in this little ditty.
- Kim Loves Diane!
- Not EVERY American TV Journalist gets to come to North Korea and give and objective report of her findings! But DIANE SAYER got to! Why?! Oh...I don't know! Maybe because she is pretty, smart...and Blonde?! Who can say what drives the Dear Leader to cooperate with the American Press...but we DO know he likes the photo shown in this link!
- North Korea's Got Talent...
- ...the new Reality Show will be the rave of Pacific Rim television!
- Coke or Pepsi? Can Kim Decide?!
- In June of 2000, Coca Cola made it's first delivery of Coke to North Korea. Clearly, the Great One had cast his vote.
But now it's six years and a half year later, and perhaps the Dear Leader wants to review the Cola Wars and see which tactics best pertain to HIS little empire? - Kim Jong Il in the New York Times
- If it's "really" news, the Times has their fingers on the pulse.
Click the link and read what's going on with the Dear Leader... - Kim Jong's Favorite Chat Board
- Talk Movies, Sports, Hip-Hop, Comic Books, Video Games and more!
(Cah MAHN! You don't think the Great One only reads about wine, films and Nuclear Weaponry...do you?!?!?) - CHina Matters Blog Featuring Kim Jung Il
- The China Matters blog covers all sorts of material in the Far East. This speciifc entry talks about Kim Jung Il's financial influence. Very interesting...
- Kim Jong Il Video
- No, not a music video...this is classified as "North Korean propaganda"!
This is truly an amazing video of Kim Jong Il as seen on North Korean and Japanese TV. Edited and translated by Rob Pongi.
This is an actual North Korean video from KCNA TV in Pyongyang, North Korea. This 'Kim Jong Il Video' is noted in Kim Jong Il at All Experts. This video does not neccessarily reflect the views of Rob Pongi nor those of anyone else associated with Asia Entertainment Online Videos. - One woman's attempt to make sense of Ki Jong Il
- Back in 2003, Laura McCLure did an itnerview with Salon.com. She actually portrayed the great little one as a smart man and a successful leader.
Well...YOU read it and decide for yourself.
As we like to say here..."nut...or what?!" - Number Two Worst Dictator?!?!
- Parade.com listed the Top Worst Dictators..and the Dear Leader made it to #2!
Who was Number One...?
You'll have to check in and see.
Plenty of opportunity to leave comments.
Maybe you think our boy was ranked TOO High?
Check in and share your feedback! - Kim Jung Il agrees to PEACE!
- North and South Korea met recently to discuss peace betwen the 2 sides! Not a spoof!
See here: http://www.comcast.net/news/index.jsp?cat=GENERAL&fn=/2007/10/04/779727.html&cvqh=itn_koreas - Kim Jong Il sufferes stroke?
- News just reported today. Perhaps our favorite little bastard is about to meet Elvis afterall?
- 10 Crazy facts about Kim Jong Il
- It appears that the media in his North Korea have made him into a bigger legend than rightfully deserved!
Breaking News on the Little Man's Health
In July 2009 the Dear One was reportedly looking frail, and it was later determined he had pancreatic cancer.
- Times Online article with Video
- Very thorough article.
- Wall Street Journal coverage
- Seoul South Korea broke the news on this one...
- Oldest Son not interested in succession
- Kim Jun Nam is no dummy. He knows that when his Dad goes he'll be a target for a South Korean ass whupping...so he's made it clear he does NOT want the throne!
Kim Jong Il Loves eBay!
Listen...it doesn't matter if you are a pauper or the supreme leader of North Korea! A bargain is a bargain and eBay has the best bargains there are!
YOU MUST READ KIM JUNG IL's BLOG!
Really...this is some funny stuff!
I couldn't get the RSS feed to load correctly...so I'm sharing the link!
- YOU MUST READ KIM JUNG IL's BLOG!
- The author of the blog says: "Jong Il's official biography claims that the ruler's birth was heralded a double rainbow over the mountain and a new star in the heavens. However, other sources claim that the duel rainbows were a product of drunken double-vision, and that the star was actually an American spy plane. Does his country have nuclear weapons? If so, can they reach America? Would he use them? And would he model the attack after a Jerry Bruckheimer movie?"
Click the link and read his rantings...
Who's Talkin' 'Bout North Korea
How does Kim Jong keep up to date on his Country? By reading THIS!
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byGreat Stuff on Amazon
Take a stroll through the market with our favorite Far Easterner!
Kim Jong Il's Word of the Day
Even North Korean Dictators need to brush up on their vocabulary!
How do you think Kim Jong Il became so well spoken? That's RIGHT...by learning a new word every day, and then applying it to his daily routine! You should try it!
Reader Feedback
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fatcat1
Nov 26, 2010 @ 10:55 pm | delete
- Great lens, an interesting individual.
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Matt Powers
May 1, 2009 @ 11:02 am | delete
- We have a great Kim Jong iL Bobblehead at www.thebobblehead.com. Only ones in the world to have it! Check it out.
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lovemybob
Sep 14, 2008 @ 5:05 am | delete
- Excellent lens, full of great resources! Thanks for creating it!
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Jan 9, 2008 @ 2:07 am | delete
- I just wrote my own lens on the DPRK. The leader is such a freak, but after all the research I did on this, I am more intrigued and it is actually on the top of my list for countries I'd like to visit. So interesting.
Check out my lens: http://www.squidoo.com/humanrightsdprk
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Reply
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Dec 5, 2007 @ 4:36 pm | delete
- A very frightening & powerful little man. 5 stars, lensrolled and bookmarked.
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