Kim Jong Il Commits Suicide in 1994

Kenji Fujimoto is the pen name of a man who alleges to have been Kim Jong Il's private cook from 1982 to 1996. Following his escape and defection to Japan, he wrote a series of books detailing both his life inside North Korea and that of the ruling family.

Among other things, Kenji details that Kim Jong-Il was severely affected by his father's death and entered a deep depression. He goes on to say that Kim Jong-Il was contemplating suicide and was at one point found with a gun.

So, what if a few months after his father's death Kim Jong-Il actually kills himself?
 
Hmmm. Kim took three years to consolidate power. From skimming Wikipedia, Pak Pong-ju and Jo Myong-rok seem to be the runs running things, but with North Korea, who's really sure? What are some good books on North Korea? I've heard that Kim Il-sung was becoming partial to peaceful reunification by the time he died...
 
"Under the loving care of the fatherly leader" by Bradley Martin can be informative, although it meanders at times. I'd say more, but it has been the best part of a decade since I read it.
 
Hmmm...I think that maybe Kim Jong Il is running the country depressed and that is why he is doing all the crazy things. but, if he actually went through with it, and the power went to his sons, I think the vicious cycle would still ensue due them being depressed and then they might get the nukes. Not to say for sure and this is all speculation
 

Sumeragi

Banned
Jong Il's uncle, Young Ju, would most likely have become leader with the backing of Il Sung's old Manchurian comrades. The funny thing is the Jong Il came to power by putting down his father's friends.
 
Yep, what Sumeragi said basically. Kim Jong Il had already accrued a pretty significant amount of power by 1994, having essentially been groomed for leadership over decades and by that point ruling alongside his father. If Fujimoto's testimony was right, and the pressure was getting too much and he decides to kill himself, we're likely to see his uncle take his place. His sister Kim Kyong Hui and her husband Chang Song Taek were supportive of Kim Jong Nam taking over, so he might be groomed for leadership.

I would think that in the absence of the Kim Jong Il's manipulative leadership and ability to balance generations and agencies within the regime, shit could go down relatively quickly. KJI's half-brother Kim Pyong Il might have returned and started trouble (KIS prior to his death is alleged to told him he was sorry he wasn't more supportive to Pyong-il).

The fact that there was, prior to 1994, two man leadership had led to the development of a faction of old-generation hardliners centred around KIS, and a younger generation faction centred around KJI. If both men died, they would lose their immediate patrons. Following that, they could align with Kim Yong Ju, Kim Pyong Il or a powerful figure outside of the Kim family.

This would, more likely than not, lead to divisions and conflicts amongst the elite, which combined with the economic malaise, the fall of the Soviet Union and other such factors would most likely lead to a Romania-like situation of elite-faction-sponsered military or civil rebellion that knocks down the government.

This could lead to total collapse and incorporation into the South, though there would require more assertiveness from Seoul in this period I think. On the other hand, it might lead to the formation of a collective leadership structure like China and Vietnam able to break with Juche and pursue economic reform. The odds of unification in some form would be significantly improved in most scenarios, I think. Unless a member of the Kim family is able to hold onto control.
 
If Lil’Kim shots himself then someone else takes over and the crazy-racist imperial Japan wannabe called the DPRK, likely still exists rather unchanged from OTL.
 
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