On Sunday December 18 2011, North Korean state media announced the sudden death of the country’s “Dear Leader”, Kim Jong Il. The demise of the country’s reclusive and mercurial leader took world powers by surprise, and led to concern about the stability of the Korean Peninsula in light of the anointment of Kim Jong Un as his father’s “Great Successor”.
In the hours following Kim Jong Il’s death, the Obama administration said it was “deeply concerned” about the welfare of the North Korean people, and engaged in fevered behind-the-scenes consultation with regional partners in a bid to ascertain more information about the political transition underway in North Korea.
Simon’s multi-media coverage from Washington, included a this report aired on several stations worldwide including Radio New Zealand:
And this television report, seen by viewers of pan-Asian broadcaster Channel News Asia:
