North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Il died this past weekend.
He reportedly died of a heart attack—Kim had previously suffered heart problems; he had a stroke in 2008.
Kim reportedly died early Saturday, December 17 in Pyongyang. According to FOX, he died while on a train due to “great mental and physical strain” during a “high intensity field inspection.”
He died at the age of 69.
His death was announced by a reporter on North Korean state media in Pyongyang Sunday.
“It is the biggest loss for the party,” a woman announcing the death said, according to the Huffington Post. “and it is our people and nation’s biggest sadness.”
His funeral is scheduled for Wednesday December 28 and North Korea will reportedly hold a national mourning period until then.
But as many in North Korea are mourning their leader, many are also wondering who will succeed him.
The L.A. Times, reports that the leader had been grooming his third son, Kim Jong Un to succeed him.
The Associated Press reported that North Korean state media made no official succession statements but indicated that Kim Jong Un would be in charge saying that the people and the military “have pledged to uphold the leadership of comrade Kim Jong Un” who was called a “great successor.”
Kim first came to power back in 1994 when his father and the founder of North Korea, Kim Il Sung died. He became well known for his constant threat of nuclear weapons.
Check out the video of a North Korean reporter announcing Kim’s death.
