Portrait of a family at war: Kim Jong Il purges relatives after alleged co

[emad]

The Independent
Portrait of a family at war: Kim Jong Il purges relatives after alleged coup bid
By Jasper Becker in Beijing
29 December 2004


North Korea's Kim Jong Il has purged some of his closest relatives, accusing them of trying to seize power, reports in Beijing and Seoul said.

The purge began some months ago when Kim Jong Il put his brother-in-law, Chang Song-taek, under house arrest along with 80 other officials and their family members. Many have reportedly been sent to North Korea's Gulag in the largest purge in a decade.

Some diplomats believe the power struggles may be connected the pace and scope of economic reforms. Kim Jong Il is reportedly preparing to announce new changes to the political and economic system in late February when the country celebrates his birthday.

Kim Jong Il took over from his father 10 years ago and managed to hold on to power as the economy collapsed and an estimated three million perished from hunger and disease.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/story.jsp?story=596607

COUP PLOT???? Was the Riggs Bank involved, maybe Mark Thatcher?????

[Wilms]

1. Interesting article.

These Jongs are ill.

They seem more messed up than the Bushes.

[JohnLocke]

2. North Korea is one seriously screwed up nation

[maxsolomon]

3. the NK people are worse off under him than the iraqis under SH

the chinese should be ashamed of themselves for tolerating his sociopathic, megalomaniacal narcissism.

the planet needs him & his family gone. i hope someone can depose & dispose of him. soon.

[ClarkUSA]

4. Too bad there's no oil there, then Bush would be your man, eh?

[LynnTheDem]

5. But the bushCartel just said Kim was a good guy.

Hmmm.