김~김~김정일 #1

Following just a small selection of articles in the int'l and S.K. media related to N.K./the "Dear Leader" (aka Kim Jong-il):

1. Newsweek's article "The Plan Post-Kim: No Plan", published 9.13:

Some thoughts are even more disturbing than the idea of Kim Jong Il's controlling an arsenal of poison gas, germ-war cultures and nuclear devices. Like what if the North Korean leader suddenly didn't control those weapons of mass destruction?

The question grew urgent last week after Kim failed to show up at a parade marking the Stalinist regime's 60th anniversary. The Dear Leader hadn't appeared in public for weeks, and senior North Korean officials soothed no one's doubts when they broke their usual silence to deny that Kim had suffered a stroke. With no solid information on Kim's health, Washington could only hope North Korea wasn't on the verge of a succession crisis... (read the entire article here)

2. Sunny Lee wrote in Korea Times that..

China Wants the Reunification of Koreas

Zhu Feng (Chinese security expert and a former fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC) acknowledges that some Chinese scholars have concerns about a reunified Korea. Once reunited, the view goes, the new Korea, more powerful and confident, will reclaim old territory that once belonged to it. Much of this land is currently Chinese territory.

But all the Chinese scholars K.Times approached, said China wants the reunification of the two Koreas.

"China has always supported a peaceful reunification of the two Koreas,'' said Wang Jisi, dean of the School of International Studies at Peking University. The influential scholar, who is widely dubbed as "personal advisor to President Hu Jintao,'' dismissed the view of some South Korean scholars that China wants the status quo on the Korean peninsula.

Song also said, "China wants the peaceful unification of Korea because it's good for China as well. This is the view of the majority of Chinese scholars. It also wants it to be done without outside forces,'' adding "It is also not likely that North Korea would embark on a war with South Korea after Kim dies.''

Zhu put it this way. "Will a unified Korea turn against China? I personally don't think that will be the case. In terms of reunification, if Koreans can resolve their issue on their own, others don't have to intervene. But South Korean newspapers said China would intervene.''

As for unification, Zhu said, "This is your business, not China's. Actually, it's the conservatives in South Korea that don't favor unification because of the expected financial burden.''... (read the entire related article here)

For more please read (and "enjoy" ^^):

☞ Careful Planning Matters More Than Kim Jong-il's Teeth (Chosun Ilbo, 9.16)

☞ We May Miss Kim Jong-il.. (NYT, 9.13)

☞ 'Dear Leader, get well soon' (A. Times, 9.12)

☞ Post-Kim Dynasty Korean Peninsula.. (DPRK Studies, 9.11)