Topic: Kim Jong-il

US envoy visits China to talk about North Korea after Kim Jong-il

The US and China plan to discuss how to restart nuclear and food aid talks with North Korea as well as US rapprochement with Burma (Myanmar) after Kim Jong-il's death.

North Korea drama: Where are Kim Jong-un's brothers?

Conspicuously absent from all images coming out of North Korea are Kim Jong-il's two other sons.

North Korea not the only offender: 6 official photo fudgings

As state manipulators of the media go, few can compare to North Korea, which found it necessary to doctor an official photograph of Kim Jong-il's funeral procession. 

Just as governments are finding it easier to use technology to manipulate images, so too is the public finding it easier to spot such digital trickery. Here are six noteworthy attempts by governments to shape media coverage through image manipulation.

The Monitor's View: Will 'supreme leader' Kim Jong-un take a shot on North Korea's future?

The young, Western-educated Kim Jong-un may be just the fresh start that North Korea needs to open up. He has a recent model to follow – Burma, a fellow reclusive nation in Asia that's reforming.

North Korea calls Kim Jong-un 'supreme leader'

The public backing for North Korea's 'supreme leader' Kim Jong-un at his father's memorial provides a strong signal that officials have unified around him in the wake of Kim Jong-il's death.

After Kim Jong-il funeral: collapse or continuity for North Korea?

As North Korea mourns during Kim Jong-il's funeral, South Koreans are reminded of the dangers of their unstable and poor sibling nation.

On North Korea's border: foreboding about what's next

South Koreans wonder if North Korea’s new leader, Kim Jong-un, might cause more trouble abroad to divert attention from political instability at home.

South Korea peace seekers meet new leader of the North

A delegation led by two South Korean widows, both linked to the failed Sunshine policy of North-South reconciliation, met with North Korea's Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang Monday.

Vaclav Havel: crisis of 'human spirit' demands spiritual reawakening

Vaclav Havel spent his life fighting for freedom and democratic expression. His legacy stands in sharp contrast to that of Kim Jong-il, who ruthlessly denied his people a voice.

Has Obama’s ‘let’s talk’ approach worked with US adversaries? A report card.

One of Obama's objectives entering the White House was to show that dialogue could be more effective than confrontation with US adversaries. From Iran to Burma, here's how it's going.

Latin America Monitor
A year of drift in US-Latin American relations

This year should have been a stellar one for US-Latin American relations, marked by trade deals and Obama's high popularity in the region. Instead, 2011 held a sense of distance between the regions.

North Korea uses Kim Jong-il funeral to send olive branch and warning to South

North Korea welcomed plans for two private 'condolence delegations' from South Korea to Kim Jong-il's funeral, but condemned the South's refusal to send official delegation and warned darkly of consequences.

Kim Jong-un's ascension offers window to ease North-South tensions

Kim Jong-un is preparing to take charge in North Korea, giving the Koreas a moment to ratchet down tensions. For South Korea, interest in stability runs high.

Global News Blog
Dear Escalator? Latest Kim Jong-il shrine is an escalator (video)

North Koreans are mourning the death of Kim Jong-il, but the oddest sign of the cult of personality is a shrine at a supermarket escalator.

Kim Jong-il: Legendary golfer and mythical powers even in death

North Korea's propaganda machine gave Kim Jong-il supernatural powers, creating a mystique around the leader. Next up: his son Kim Jong-un.

Did Kim Jong-il death ruin breakthrough deal on North Korea nukes?

Before the death of Kim Jong-il, the US was close to working out a deal to give food aid to North Korea in exchange for steps toward denuclearization. Now those talks are on hold. 

South Korea in furor over intelligence vacuum on Kim Jong-il's death

Getting information out of North Korea is notoriously difficult, but many say South Korea's intelligence service has been embarrassed by playing catch-up on Kim Jong-il's death.

Terrorism & Security
After Kim Jong-il: Who is really in charge in North Korea? (VIDEO)

In the wake of Kim Jong-il's death, son Kim Jong-un will rule North Korea alongside his uncle and members of the military, Reuters reports. 

Sympathy? Condolences? South Korea weighs response to Kim Jong-il's death.

Kim Jong-il vowed to turn Seoul into a 'sea of flames.' Not surprisingly, expressions of condolences on his death have been a subject of debate in South Korea. 

Oil futures rise to near $95

Oil futures on Asian markets buoyed by regional stock market gains, hopes of better US economic data. Oil futures moved up 95 cents.

Kim Jong-il death sparks hopes of reunification for Korean-Americans

Korean-Americans say North Korea is in an uncertain position after the death of leader Kim Jong-il, but they hope that the event could ultimately lead to the reunification of North and South.

Kim Jong-il dead: Pentagon war game considers worst-case scenario

News that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is dead has not alarmed the Pentagon. But one of its worst-case scenarios for global security is a failed succession and the collapse of the regime. 

Kim Jong-il's death brings end to era of cruelty, mystery

'Dear Leader' Kim Jong-il's death ends 17 years of leadership defined by oppression, bizarre stories of grandeur, and tensions with the West over its nuclear program. 

Global News Blog
Kim Jong Il: Greatest. Filmmaker. Ever.

His role in leading the North Korean people to a perfect Worker's Paradise is well known (aside from a few unfortunate famines). But as film director, Kim Jong Il deserves a retrospective.

The Monitor's View: A new Kim in North Korea requires even more US deterrence

After the death of Kim Jong-il, his son, Kim Jong-un, is too weak to rule. That could cause North Korea to provoke conflict. Obama must renew America's defense of South Korea.