Kim Jong Il's Death and What It Means

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Special report by Jangta
December 19th, 2011 (last updated: December 21st)

As many of you know, the premier leader of North Korea just passed away. The man that has survived countless threats, embargos, and disdain from much of the Western world couldn't escape one danger: His own fragile health. He suffered a massive heart stroke and finally fell to it two days ago.

Kim Jong Il's passing at 69 leaves a gaping hole in its country's leadership. His successor, Kim Jong-un, will take the reigns of one of the most secretive countries in the world. The shocking news is also making world leaders speculate on the future of Korea as awhole. The leader's passing is one of the most important historical milestones in modern Asian history.

But the big question remains: will Kim Jong Il's death lead to reunification? GTG answers them and more in our "What does Kim Jong Il's Death Really Mean" segment.

In the grand scheme of things, not much will change in South Korea. While the big-wigs and politicans will discuss a possible unification strategy, for the normal people in Korea, they will go on with their routine, daily lives. Students will go to school, people will continue to shop for Christmas, and K-pop will continue to live on.

"I hope coming of the two Koreas will come soon, yet I know it may be far off still," said one unnamed Korean woman in her 50s. Disarming the volatile DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) between the Koreas may be a challenge in itself. Clearing out the barbed wires, the traps, the millions of land mines, and salvaging the bunkers and walls will take some time. In other words: it may take just a passing of North Korea's great leader to reunite Korea as one again.

Not much is known of the once-hidden successor of North Korea's "royal family". He is the 3rd son of the late Kim Jong-il. Like many other privileged children of politicians, Kim Jong-un studied abroad in Switzerland. Also similar to his father, he has an affinity for international goods, from the famed NBA player Michael Jordan to liking Western movies and music. Yet, he has been groomed for nearly three years to succeed his father one day. While Kim Jong-il's health has been detoriating for some time, the day that his son would take over was in the distant future.

Until now, that is.

The 29 year-old may have a lot on his hands these days. The freshly-minted North Korean leader — the third in North Korea's history — needs to rally his nation under him, feed his starving people, and stave off potential threats to his country. The biggest challenge facing the young successor may be in his own ruling party. He'll need to maintain his own power from his own party. This means he'll need to find a way to limit any revolutions, overthrowing of the regime, and backstabbings.

One thing that the younger Kim has going for him is that insiders say he is like his father. His mannerisms, looks, and appearance all parallel the late Kim Jong-il. The ruling party hopes that Kim Jong-un will be father and inherited his leadership and vision. Outsiders, however, hope that he is much more diplomatic, open-minded, and more rational than his father. This means rather than threatening force all the time, Western countries hope that Kim Jong-un will present a more peaceful side in country talks.

With talks of reunification swirling around, many dream of having a united Korea. With a united Korea comes a merging of the two economies. However, if anything, looking at the two countries' economies shows just how different the two are. So where do the current economies of the Koreas stand?

The simple answer would be: North = poor, South = rich. This statement would be 100% correct. Yet, by looking at the statistics below, the economies go into greater detail.

A quick glance to the numbers above show that the South Koreans live a much more prosperous, free life. North Korea's GDP per capita (meaning how much each person earns roughly per year) is a mere $1800. By contrast, their Southern neighbors earn about 17 times more, with an average of $30,200. This average represents where 1st world nations' citizens earn. Thus, while North Koreans are struggling to buy food and pay rent, the Southerners have enough money to spend on luxury items and consumer goods.

Another telling fact is what each nation exports. While the North exports natural resources to the world, the South makes their money off electronics and Korean media. The North trades lumps of coal, plationium, zinc, and other fancy resources to China and Russia. The South invades the world with Samsung, LG, Hyundai, Girls Generation, and dramas such as Secret Garden. It's no wonder why South Korea's economy is booming today.

For people that don't like the nitty, gritty details of economic acronyms like GDP, PPP, GNP, and other silly three-combination letters, the picture below explains a lot.

Taken from satellite images, the picture shows the lights of both Koreas in 1992 and 2008. This is important, as bright, lighted areas indicates a large city with electricity and high technology. Darkened areas, on the other hand, indicate little to no electricity in the area. It must be really lonely... and dark up north.

Many Koreans look to East and West Germany in 1989 as a shining example of reunification. However, with a new leader looking to establish his own tight, ironclad rule on North Korea, reunification may still be a distant dream.

While many people point out that Germany and Korea have been separated for a long period of time (Germany for 44 years and Korea for 61 years), there are still huge differences. One is that West Germany was nowhere near as secretive and closed off as North Korea. Another is that Eastern Germany was a satellite country of the USSR, while North Korea is a country on its own. Furthermore, North Korea's culture is very fanatical — rivaling a cult-like status — in revering the "two Kims" (Kim Jong-Il and Kim Il-sung). The North Koreans are told at birth that the "two Kims" are all they need in life. To take away their heros they worshipped since childhood could create a massive uprising in the Korean peninsula.

The biggest opposition to reunification, however, may not be coming from the North. It will be coming from their well-to-do neighbors southbound instead. Many corporations, wealthier South Korean citizens are strongly opposed to merging with their poorer neighbors. Speaking on why many Southerners do not want reunification...

One Korea, separated by war, coming together as brothers 61 years later. It does sound like a great ending, doesn't it?

Yet, just by looking at the economics alone, the picture becomes more bleak. As stated earlier, the two Koreas economies are as different as night and day. If a peaceful reunification were to occur, the Korean economy would actually take a hit. A big one at that.

Employment, standards of living, and reeducating the Northerners would be just three problems the wealthier South would have to solve. Imagine being an average North Korean and moving to the Seoul. You have no idea how to use a cell phone, how to fill out a resume, and how to use a computer. People discriminate you for your heavy North Korean accent and poor diet. When people talk to you about Democracy, you would think they are strange, as all you know about are the "two Kims". In short, your first day of adjusting to the Seoul lifestyle is exceedingly difficult, to put it best.

Now imagine millions of North Koreans flooding the streets of Seoul, Incheon, and Busan looking for work.

Like Western Germany helping poorer Easter Germany after 1989, South Korea would be in a tough bind. North Korea is listed as one of the poorest countries in the world. While the literacy rate in the North is 99%, they are taught on the passages of North Korean history, anti-Americanism, and English. With English being the most useful skill they've learned, these citizens lacked the subjects needed to survive in a modern society. Namely, business, interview skills, communications, and math to name a few.

With the burden of supporting the newcomers from the North, the South would have a difficult time. Special educational schools would need to be created, new homes would have be built, and more food would need to be produced to provide basic needs for these new citizens.

As for rebuilding the North, that would be a project on its own. It took Eastern Germany about ten years to catch up with the West after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Experts say that at least 50 billion dollars would be needed for North Korea's cities to match that of South Korea's cities. Cleaning up the cities and building infrastructure would take years. Expect the South to spend three to five times more than what Western Germany spent 20 years ago in supporting its poorer neighbor.

Could you imagine doubling or tripling the amount of K-pop bands debuting every year? Whether you shutter or become giddy over that hypothecial situation, it could possibly happen. If North and South Korea had a smooth, peaceful reunification, a united Korea would be a greater economic powerhouse than before. Fans could be seeing more T-aras, 2NE1s, and 2PMs in the future, but this time, from the Northern side of Korea.

With an estimated 72 million population (South Korea's population = 50 million; North Korea's population 22 million), Korea would have an ample workforce to support its country. The unified Korea would have more room to expand (no more overpopulated Seoul!) and more resources. Korea would be able to restore its wonders and monuments in the North. Tourism would also increase as well, as people would want to visit the former North Korean soil. National pride would be at an all-time high if Korea is able to pull off what Germany did two decades ago.

If reunification were to happen, move over Japan and China, a new economic giant in Asia would be moving into town. In the words of Street Fighter, "Here comes a new challenger!". But instead of lobbing fireballs, dragon punches, and sonic booms, this challenger would be tossing more K-pop, K-dramas, and Korean culture to the world.

The greatest benefit to reunification is removing the DMZ and perhaps, the most dangerous country from Earth. With the removal of 1.4 million troops and a stockpile of missiles from Asia, it is safe to say that the continent would be much safer.

An economic powerhouse and harmony on the Korean peninsula. This is what many South Koreans and its leaders envision one day. Let's hope that if reunification is possible, that a smooth, peaceful one takes place.

The earliest reports from world leaders on Kim Jong-il's death is silent, but telling. China has expressed deep condolescenes towards their ally's loss, yet other leaders had differing opinions. Below (corteousy of the BBC) are what the leaders said in their press conferences:

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China said it was "distressed" to hear the news of his death. "We express our grief about this and extend our condolences to the people of North Korea," foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying.

South Korea's Lee Myung-bak urged people to "go about their usual economic activities" on Monday, while putting the military on alert.

Great Britain's William Hague (British Foreign Secretary) said, "The people of North Korea are in official mourning after the death of Kim Jong-il. We understand this is a difficult time for them.

This could be a turning point for North Korea. We hope that their new leadership will recognise that engagement with the international community offers the best prospect of improving the lives of ordinary North Korean people."

Australia's Kevin Rudd (Australian Foreign Minister) said, "[Kim Jong-Il's passing] also presents an important opportunity to the new North Korean leadership to engage fully with the international community on how to improve their economy in order to properly feed their people and critically on how to deal with the outstanding problem of North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.

France's Alain Juppe (French Foreign Minister) said "We are very watchful of the consequences of this succession, hoping that one day the people of North Korea will be able to find freedom."

The United States has stayed mum and not released any press statements as of Dec 19th, 2011.

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Here are three videos from the North Korean people after hearing about the news.

The next few weeks will be telling how North Korea responds in losing their leader. Whether North Korea continues to maintain their sabre-rattling, secretive state, or engage in peace talks, one thing is certain. The world is witnessing a major turning event in modern Asian history.

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