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North Korea’s controversial leader Kim Jong Il died this past weekend, apparently from a heart attack. He was 69 years old. His death comes at a time when Washington DC and Pyongyang were about to resume talks on North Korea’s nuclear disarmament. According to the Associated Press, the US government was on the verge of making a food donation in relation to an agreement by North Korea to suspend a Uranium enrichment program. Kim Jong Il’s son, Kim Jong Un, who was being groomed to replace him, will now take his father’s place. It remains to be seen how smoothly the transition of power will resume. Kim Jong Un, who is believed to be either 27 or 28 years old, made his political debut a year ago at the first ruling Party Congress in 30 years. He represents the third generation in a row from the same family that has ruled the isolated Communist nation. His father assumed power in a similar fashion 30 years ago and it took at least 3 years for him to consolidate his power within the ruling Workers Party after his father’s death. With tens of thousands of US troops stationed in neighboring South Korea, Washington is closely watching the proceedings. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced, “[w]e …share a common interest [with the Korean people] in a peaceful and stable transition in North Korea as well as ensuring regional peace and stability.” North Koreans have been suffering from years of famine-related hunger with 10% of its population experiencing starvation.

GUEST: Karin Lee, Executive Director of the National Committee on North Korea

Visit www.ncnk.org for more information.