North Korean Leader Kim Jong Il, 69, Has Died

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/12/18/world/asia/AP-AS-Korea-Kim-Jong-Il.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

This in itself was not unexpected. The groundwork for the succession of Jon-Il has been in the works for some time and the grand showings of his son last year, in order to build credibility, seemed desperate.

The more worrisome part of this story is what happens next. A spasm of internal violence could spill into South Korea. A crash of the tiny economy could send millions into China, destabilizing Manchuria and the North Korean government both. The generals could bully the new leader into a host of regressive programs that does any, or all, of the above. Finally, the new leader could institute progressive policies, either leading to a brighter future or a coup.

The most unlikely scenario involves North Korea being passed on to the next leader as the same country it is today. Let's hope against hope that twenty years from now North Korea is experiencing some form of revival.