North Korean leader dies
- 13 years ago
ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)
The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, suffered a massive heart attack on a train on Saturday, the North's KCNA news agency said on Monday.
An autopsy conducted on Sunday confirmed the cause of death, it said.
A tearful announcer dressed in black said the 69-year-old died on Saturday of physical and mental over-work on his way to give "field guidance".
Kim had suffered a stroke in 2008, but appeared to have recovered.
Kim Jong-un, the senior Kim Jong-il's youngest son, is seen as the leader-in-waiting after he was appointed to senior political and military posts in 2010.
The younger Kim was at the head of a long list of officials making up the funeral committee, indicating he will lead it.
Experts say Jong-un has the intelligence and leadership skills that would make him suitable to succeed his father.
He is also reported to have a ruthless streak that analysts say he would need to rule the country.
There is likely to be an enormous outpouring of emotion over Kim' in North Korea, where the country's propaganda machine turned him into a demi-god.
The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, suffered a massive heart attack on a train on Saturday, the North's KCNA news agency said on Monday.
An autopsy conducted on Sunday confirmed the cause of death, it said.
A tearful announcer dressed in black said the 69-year-old died on Saturday of physical and mental over-work on his way to give "field guidance".
Kim had suffered a stroke in 2008, but appeared to have recovered.
Kim Jong-un, the senior Kim Jong-il's youngest son, is seen as the leader-in-waiting after he was appointed to senior political and military posts in 2010.
The younger Kim was at the head of a long list of officials making up the funeral committee, indicating he will lead it.
Experts say Jong-un has the intelligence and leadership skills that would make him suitable to succeed his father.
He is also reported to have a ruthless streak that analysts say he would need to rule the country.
There is likely to be an enormous outpouring of emotion over Kim' in North Korea, where the country's propaganda machine turned him into a demi-god.