Update: US and South Korean intelligence report no suspicious movements of North Korean troops, and from what information is available, the country seems to have achieved stability through a power-sharing agreement. This alert will be lifted, although we will continue to keep a close eye on the situation.
Update: Kim Jong Un and the North Korean military have apparently brokered an arrangement in which they will "share power", a drastic departure from the rule system of Kim Jong Il. What this means, and what exactly is going on behind the scenes remains uncertain. Additionally, the situation continues to remain unstable, mostly due to the fact that very little information escapes North Korea outside of intelligence and South Korean media reports. We will keep tabs on the situation should anything develop.
News reports around the world are indicating that the dictator Kim Jong Il is dead, and that South Korea's military has been placed on high alert due to possible destabilization or imminent armed conflict.
We will keep you updated as the situation unfolds.
If you are currently in South Korea or Japan, it is recommended that you keep close to TV or radio and check frequently for updates or government / embassy instructions.
Do not take this situation lightly; North Korea was highly unstable before the loss of leadership, and the potential for the situation to spiral is great enough to warrant heightened vigilance. Stay tuned.
17 comments (read or post your own):
What could this mean for the U.S.?
This could mean the first domino to fall in triggering WWIII, dude!
well we are allied with South Korea, and China, Iran and I believe Russia, were backing North Korea -.- so simply put if the North and South parts of Korea in my opinion go to war with one another due to a fragile leadership, that would draw a deciding line between what the US and other nations do as well.. Iran is looking for an excuse to start a war with the US, and Russia is flexing its political muscles by betraying western law in the United Nations, China is flexing it's military arm and upping its production of aircraft carriers and strengthening it;s fleet in the asia pacific honestly the outlook dosent look so great but that's my opinion.
YES, SOUNDS LIKE THERE COULD BE TROUBLE. SAD PEOPLE.
I don't see anything of significance coming out of this other than getting rid of kim jong ll
How crazy is his son?
Steady on lads...
It's a little bit early to talk about WWIII.
This could be good news for the region as Kim Jong Il wasn't exactly an ideal choice to be in charge of a nuclear capable country...although the less said about Dubya the better!
I think his son may have similar policies and attitude towards the west but we'll have to wait and see.
Nick
Also...in response to the comments by Anonymous (December 19, 2011 3:16 AM).
I'm not so sure Iran is looking for an excuse to start a war with the USA. I think the US has made some fairly hostile steps in terms of sending drones over their airspace. I also think that Iran have dealt with that pretty well...they have had a field day poking fun at the might of America.
Was your comment about Russia betraying western law in the UN in reference to them selling cruise missiles to Syria? AFAIK, this has nothing to do with the UN as the deal was made a few years ago. The US and Israel protested the sale as they feared it would threaten Israeli naval ships and as a result US interests. Russia were not convinced and decided to go ahead with the sale.
I think it's a bit rich of the US to complain about this considering their record of arming dangerous people. Even today they supply Israel with state of the art weapons which are used on innocent people.
Two wrong certainly don't make a right but countries can and do look out for their own interests.
Nick
Would it not be nice to live in a world where when a leader dies we do not lock and load
Agree with Nick, the US seems to be the aggressor here, not Iran. They deployed the drone, this in itself could be considered enough to start a war if Iran wanted to.
Agree with Nick...and USA has ALWAYS been the agressor.
Am more afraid of the US having nuclear weapons....& the US & co have invaded & invaded countries...why don't we fear that more?
Kind Regards Barb
Anything new happen?
You people are ignorant. The only reason there has not been a second holocaust brought about by the surrounding middle eastern inhabitants is because the USA has given Isreal the military weaponry to protect its surrounded borders. There is such a thing as good and bad people in this world and anyone with a brain could look through the pages of history and see the USA is on the side of good.
Hi Anonymous..
I'm not so sure Hiroshima was an act of kindness myself but then again, I am ignorant.
If you're so keen on history, you will already know about the origins of the state of Israel and the unjust and inhumane treatment of the Palestines who have a valid claim to the land. Some people view the treatment of the Palestines in Israel as a modern day Holocaust....but hey, it's ok as 'God' told them it's their land and the US is happy to support them as the zionist lobby is so very powerful in the USA.
I know there are quite a few radical leaders and political/religious activists in the middle east who have some extreme views on western countries but to try and paint the US as paragons of virtues is stretching common decency just a tad too much. I'd be interested in finding out just how many innocent people have died thanks to US policies in the middle east? Must be hundreds of thousands...but it's all good right?
Nick
Nick I understand that being I'll informed can cause one to think of a subject under a dimmer light. Hiroshima saved hundreds of thousands of lives. If the USA had not shocked the Japaneese into submitting, countless lives on both sides would have been lost. The Japaneese of that era were brutal heartless killers who would have invaded US shores if only given time. We would all be living in a different world today if it was not for a few brave people who knew enough to take it to that level. Isreal is an ancient city rife with artifacts dug up every day belonging to Jewish people thousands of years ago. Have any Palestinian artifacts been dug up? Nope. Not one. You know why? Palestine was made up less then a century ago. They were exiles from Jordan who if the world cared so much about would have the Jordinans take back and give them a peacefully home instead of fighting day and night for a peice of land the size of San Diego. I too beleive that everyone has a right to peace and happiness and this is not what the Isreal Palestine conflict is about.
Just to peek into the discussion:
1) "Israel" is actually the creation, partitioned by the British, following WW2, with the land Israel now owns once being called "Palestine" long before that. But then again, that land had a multitude of names by various peoples who all laid claim to it;
2) Arabs and a variety of other Semitic races occupied that area long before the Jewish people formed their majority with their recall of the diaspora;
3) Today's "Palestine" has at least a few holy sites, and I imagine that's the case for nearly every inch of land in the Middle East;
3) Japan was on its knees and on the brink of surrendering prior to the bombs being dropped, and the refusal of their one term of surrender (the surrender of the Emperor, as all other terms had been generally accepted) was upheld by MacArthur anyway when he allowed the Emperor to continue his reign. The bombs were more likely used to frighten away the Soviets, who at that time were racing across Manchuria and were gunning for the northern half of Japan just like how they seized the eastern half of Germany.
Just want everyone to have the right facts. Floor is yours, guys.
1. Their has been "no accountabillity" as yet for the bombs being dropped on Nagasaki & Hiroshima.
2. The USA & Co have illegally invaded Middle Eastern countries....murdering thousands.
3. Iraq: lets invade due to Suddam having "weapons of Mass Destruction"....official figures show over 100,000 Iraq's dead..."true" figures may be well over 1 million Iraq's dead.
SO....WHO actually was responsible for "MASS DESTRUCTION?????....: the USA & Co.
Kind Regards Barb
going back to my red wine now...
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