Throughout the world, there exist places where the sun may occasionally shine, yet genuine illumination remains elusive. One such spot is a desolate, frigid expanse in Siberia that stretches eastward from the Ural Mountains to the Pacific coastline. Here lies a collection of obscure villages, scattered in their isolation, many with names that defy pronunciation.
One of these remote locations is Vyatskoye, situated in eastern Siberia.
Kim Jong-il entered the world in 1941, taking his first breath amidst the icy air of Vyatskoye. His father, Kim Il-sung, was a captain in the Soviet Red Army, leading a battalion of Korean and Chinese guerrillas stationed in the area. Folklore suggests that upon that initial gasp, the chill enveloped his mind, body, and spirit, never to be warmed again until his death last Friday.
It’s curiously fitting that destiny marked this moment for Kim Jong-il’s arrival. At the time, global tensions were rising; the possibility of German and Japanese domination over Eurasia lingered. Aligning Korea’s future with Russia and China surely seemed a pragmatic decision for his father. For the young Kim, this alignment eventually paved the way for his absolute authority over the North Korean populace.
His Lasting Testament
In stark contrast to his father, Kim Jong-il was not an ardent believer in Marxist ideology. However, he harbored a profound conviction in his own greatness and authority. Years later, North Korea’s constitution was revised to refer to him directly as the “supreme leader.”
By the time he officially ascended to power following his father’s death in 1994, it had become painfully apparent that a state-controlled economy paled in comparison to a free-market system. The downfall of the Soviet Union had laid bare the flaws of such a system, while China had pragmatically shifted gears. The glaring contrast between North Korea’s plight and the rapid advancement of South Korea was an undeniable spectacle.
Any rational individual might have folded under the weight of this evidence and permitted his people to thrive. Yet for Kim Jong-il, the goal was never the well-being of the masses; it was solely about amplifying his dominion. The most effective means of achieving that was through military expansion.
During the devastating famine of the mid-1990s, which claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, Kim Jong-il diverted national resources into developing nuclear weapons. Instead of opening North Korea for economic freedom, he adopted a “Military-First” policy, designed to bolster his rule.
In his distorted perspective, he may have seen himself as continuing his father’s Juche (self-reliance) revolution, even while relying heavily on foreign food aid. Tragically, a third of North Korean children, stunted by malnutrition, will forever stand as poignant reminders of his destructive legacy.
Requiem for a Dictator: Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il undoubtedly desired recognition as a global leader, yet he fell short by any measure. Beyond his cruel policies, his eccentric interests may offer the most revealing insights into his chilling mentality.
The short, rotund figure with fluffy hair epitomized the image of a tyrannical dictator. His appearance was anything but dignified, and his behavior was equally questionable.
When not indulging in shark fin soup, he was absorbed in James Bond films, slasher flicks, and action movies, often accompanied by a harem of young women. If such pastimes didn’t suffice, he drowned his discontent in copious amounts of cognac and French wine, all while chain-smoking.
According to North Korean state media, Kim Jong-il supposedly scored multiple hole-in-ones during his golf outings. His official biography claimed he penned six operas and even touted himself as an internet expert. Such absurdities were all part of the extensive personality cult that deified him, persuading children and citizens alike that he possessed the mystical ability to control the weather based on his whims.
Despite his vast array of supposed talents and revered status, he could not escape the inevitable; his cold heart from Vyatskoye finally gave out.
As Jim Morrison aptly stated, “No one here gets out alive.”
In death, Kim Jong-il may face the uncomfortable reckoning of meeting his maker.
May he rest in hell.
Sincerely,
MN Gordon
for Economic Prism
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