newjerseynewsroom.com

Maybe they wanted to make sure, like the Witch of the East in the “Wizard of Oz,” that he was not only “merely dead, but really most sincerely dead.”

Kim Jong Il, North Korea’s Communist leader who became famous in the United States for trying to show off his country’s nuclear weapons capabilities, died of a massive heart attack at age 69 on Dec. 17 at 8:30 a.m., which in these parts translates to Dec. 16 at 6:30 p.m. But it took two days for the news to reach the rest of the world.

As mediabistro.com reported in its TVNewser column, “The death of a ruling world leader — in this case a supreme leader — would be instant news around the globe” and that it wasn’t “speaks volumes about the global isolation in which North Korea exists.”

In what is becoming all too common these days, the major news outlets were scooped by social media. The first report of the death came late on Dec. 18 (Eastern Time) on Twitter by Andrea Mitchell who wrote: “U.S officials have no official comment on Kim’s death. Long anticipated but no warning it was imminent.”

The first opinion was also expressed on Twitter by Andy Levy who posted, “RIP* Kim Jong-Il *Rot In Pieces.”

The official announcement of the ruler’s death came on Dec. 18 when North Korean television said the country’s “Supreme Commander” had died on a train of a heart attack caused by “physical fatigue,” according to the New York Daily News.

A weepy announcer said, “He dedicated his life to his people.”

Reports followed that his 27-year-old son, Kim Jong Un, will succeed him — although there is speculation that military leaders may feel he is too young to assume power. He was appointed to the rank of four-star military general last year.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said the United States was closely monitoring developments, adding, “We are in close touch with our allies in South Korea and Japan. We remain committed to stability on the Korean peninsula, and to the freedom and security and our allies.”

South Korea, often threatened by North Korea during Kim Jung Il’s reign, has been on emergency alert since getting news of his death.

Kim Jung Il became leader of North Korea after his father Kim Il Song died also of a heart attack in 1994. Kim Il Song founded the communist nation.

In 2008, it was believed that Kim Jong Il suffered a stroke, but he didn’t show any effects of that in recent appearances. In fact, as was reported on examiner.com, he seemed in relative good health lately on trips to allies Russia and China.

He was also believed to have diabetes and heart disease.

Besides flaunting his nukes, he was famous for starving his people and using foreign prostitutes. He was also for known for enjoying wine, cigars and gourmet food.

He was also parodied in the 2004 film “Team America: World Police” for his penchant for throwing tantrums.

—JOE GREENE, NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM