The Death of Kim Jong Il

“For God's sake, let us sit upon the ground
And tell sad stories of the death of kings…
…for within the hollow crown
That rounds the mortal temples of a king
Keeps Death his court and there the antic sits,
Scoffing his state and grinning at his pomp…”
Richard II, William Shakespeare

Over the weekend, Americans heard the first word of the death of North Korea’s Kim Jong Il; the enigmatic, irrational, dangerous and bizarre leader of the “hermit” country. In his place, an even more mysterious figure, Kim Jong Un, to take the mantle of dictatorship. However, dictatorship does not begin to explain the depth of control exercised by the North Korean government. It is the level of control and the near brainwashed-like level of devotion that makes Kim Jong Il’s death so disturbing and so potentially dangerous.

Immediately, markets dropped throughout Asia, with South Korea’s market dropping the most as they stand in the shadow of the mysterious country. South Korea’s military, understandably, went on high alert. Japan and China must also be wary of what the death of Kim Jong Il must mean to the region, in particular and the world, in general. Increasing the concern is the size and devotion of the North Korean military – a million-strong force said to be the fifth largest in the world. While China has some influence on the country, it might not be able to control the series of events that could impact its neighbor.

There are two major areas of concern that many analysts are highlighting. The first deals the unpreparedness of Kim Jong Un. While in his late twenties or early thirties, there is not much thought that he is in a position to run the country without being some type of puppet. Who would be pulling the strings of the young marionette? There are rivalries that exist within the family, with the eldest son, Kim Jung Nam, safely in China, criticizing the order of succession. What makes him all the more intriguing is that he is a “reformer.” Would it be enough to bring North Korea from the cold should Kim Jong Un prove not ready for the bright lights?

The other area of concern lies with the three organizations within the government constantly fighting for influence and power – the party, the military and the Cabinet. According to the BBC, the military has seen a large increase of power and influence in the term of Kim Jong Il but each group has its hopes.

So, what do the surrounding countries and the U.S. do? First, I’m not sure how many messages of condolences will be forthcoming. Hard to express sympathy for one who is responsible for the utter destruction of the country’s agricultural sector, that has led to widespread starvation and poverty and ultimately, countless deaths. South Korea obviously has the most to worry about. However, its military might will not be enough in the event of a young ruler looking to display his feathers. This will bring the U.S. and its allies into the mix. To make matters worse, there is not a great deal that President Obama can do but to react best to a quickly developing situation. For Japan, its relatively small military will place it at risk should Pyongyang decide to instigate conflict. Russia has lost contact with North Korea, cutting off annual funds since the collapse of the Soviet Union. And so, if there is to be one country who stands at the greatest position of influence, it is China.

China has always viewed North Korea as the “crazy little brother” that they must protect. However, North Korea is already showing a troubling tendency. Shortly before the announcement of the death of Kim Jong Il, reports suggested several test rockets were fired along the east coast of the country. The biggest thing that the Americans, Koreans and the Japanese can do is to prepare militarily. Former ambassador to China under Barack Obama, John Huntsman, who is also a Republican candidate for president, has suggested the possibility for hope but the U.S. and the world community cannot count on that. There is simply not enough information to know for sure. Shakespeare’s Richard II was a character whose actions led to his destruction. Kim Jong Il’s actions destroyed a country and killed, potentially, millions. History abhors a vacuum and the united nations can only hope that what comes next is better than before. Hopefully.