In Passing: Kim Jong Il

I was living in Japan when Kim Il Song died and passed the reins of power to Kim Jong Il. I remember being worried, at the time, that the DPRK might become unhinged, that KJI might launch conventional missiles at Japan just to demonstrate his power and resolve. My father, who was working in the military at the time, helped to allay my fears. KJI, he said, is reportedly more interested in wine, women, and song than in any expansion or conflict.

Dad was right. KJI was, at heart, a petty dictator riding on the rails set up by his much more conflict-oriented father. Over time, KJI became the keystone in a power struggle between the warring factions in the DPRK's military. The colonels and generals would plot against each other, but none of them would risk opposing The Great Leader Jr. for fear of being purged.

And purge he did, on occasion. Indications are that his own closest relatives have tried, over the years, to distance themselves from him. His eldest son, Kim Jong Nam, tried to get into Japan on a forged Dominican Republic passport; the DPRK's story is that he was trying to visit Tokyo Disneyland.

And now, Kim Jong Eun; the youngest, at 27, of the sons, and now The Great Leader III. While this cannot have been a complete surprise to the military leadership, it also presumably won't be welcome news all around. With winter really just beginning to bear down, and with a lot of the world's dictators gone in the past year or so, the cracks may just be showing. As disrespectful as it may seem, this could very well be the season for diplomatic overtures. If the son can be assured safe passage off the tiger, well, we just might be able to see the end of this misbegotten dynasty before the decade's out.

What a Merry Xmas present that would make.