Kim Jong Il is dead.

North Korean media has reported that long-time leader Kim Jong-Il has died, the Reuters news agency said.

State television reported on Monday that he died on Saturday and the announcer said the cause was "physical and mental over-work".

Kim is believed to have suffered a stroke in 2008 but appeared relatively vigorous in photos and video from recent trips to China and Russia and in numerous trips around the country carefully documented by state media.

The leader, reputed to have had a taste for cigars, cognac and gourmet cuisine, was believed to have had diabetes and heart disease.

The news comes as North Korea prepares for a hereditary succession.

"Just a couple of days ago, it was publicised that he was visiting a military installation," Don Kirk of the Christian Science Monitor told Al Jazeera.

"Obviously there will be a long period of pubilc mourning in the country, but the sense is that at least he organised his succession with [his son] Kim Jong-Un taking over."

"The country looks stable, but whether it will remain stable is not clear," he said.

Kim, 69, took power in 1994 upon the death of his father, Kim Il-Sung, the first leader of the country.

Pyongyang is due to celebrate the milestone 100th birthday of Kim Il-Sung in April 2012.

http://www.aljazeera...3620221153.html

http://abcnews.go.co...56#.Tu6vT9TOxWU

His son is crazier than he is he'll surprises the US with a tactical nuke and WW3 will happen and I'll get drafted and die in some form of prison camp.

Edited by Slidell, 18 December 2011 - 09:28 PM.