Kim Jong-il's death increases uncertainty across East Asia and the West

Whilst most 24 million North Koreans will be genuinely distraught by the death of their “Dear Leader” and the increasing but small number of cynics portrayed as such, the end of Kim Jong-Il’s tyrannical reign has increased the chill wind of uncertainty across East Asia and the West.

Kim’s signature unpredictability coupled with his mythological demi-god existence, his nuclear arms programme and missile launchers aimed at South Korea and Japan, were vilified and feared.

Even his closest ally China had let it be known it too had often grown tired and afraid of his brinkmanship and belligerence.

Read more