How the World Sees Kim’s Death

The death of Kim Jong-il was front-page news all over the world. Breaking news, the headlines, the big story, hot topic or whatever it is called, the news came as swiftly as possible. However, different views and attitudes were found to present an account of the event.

The Yomiuri Shimbun of Japan said in an editorial titled <International community must prepare for an unstable North Korea>, “The international community, and above all the five nations involved with North Korea in the six-party talks – Japan, the United States, China, South Korea and Russia – must not allow North Korea to become an established nuclear power.” It also added, “North Korea will not be able to reconstruct its bankrupt economy as long as it refuses to cooperate in solving the abduction issue and does not change course on nuclear arms.”

On the other hand, China and Russia focused on their relationships with North Korea. People’s Daily of China quoted Hu Jintao, “Maintaining and developing the traditional friendship with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is an unwavering policy”, with his picture visiting the DPRK embassy in Beijing to convey his condolences. The Moscow Times of Russia quoted Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, “Kim’s death should not affect relations between Russia and North Korea”, with the picture of Kim Jong-il and Dmitry Medvedev meeting near Lake Baikal in August.

Granma International of Cuba, Viet Nam News of Vietnam and the Jakarta Post of Indonesia reported official mourning of their countries. Especially in Cuba, The Council of State of the Republic of Cuba decreed three days of official mourning and on December 20, 21 and 23 the national flag would be lowered to half mast on public buildings and military institutions. In Vietnam and Indonesia, foreign ministries announced statements to express deepest condolences.

The Times of India said in a comment titled <Time to talk>, “South Korea, Japan, the US and other stakeholders must utilise this period to open channels of communication and offer economic aid to bolster a leader who is willing to deal with them in good faith.” The Himalayan Times of Nepal presented the death of Kim Jong-il and the successor Kim Jong-un as top news but no editorials or analyses uploaded.

The Straits Times of Singapore also did not issue any editorials or comments but created a special section for Kim Jong-il’s death with the title ‘The Big Story’. The latest stories have been updated in real time. New Straits Times of Malaysia said in a column titled <Anxious eyes watch over North Korea>, “Kim Jong-il’s death provided North Korea an opportunity to break from its past. Kim Jong-un studied in Switzerland and was closer in age to a younger group of reformers who had helped allow limited use of mobile phones and the Internet.”  

Bangkok Post of Thailand doubted the role of the USA in an article titled <For US and allies, a risky path on North Korea>. However, it stressed the role of China quoting, “the Chinese are going to hold the driver’s seat with the survival and the demise of North Korea” by Jack Pritchard.

Al Jazeera presented the news of Kim Jong-il’s death as the top story of the front page and also introduced a column with the title <Young Kim is in the house>. The columnist Pepe Escobar also stressed the role of China.

Gulf News of the UAE reported the both possibilities of war threats and changes in an article titled <Kim’s death sparks dear and hope in South Korea>. The Kuwait Times focused on Jang Song-thaek rather than the successor Kim Jong-un in an analysis titled <The power behind the throne in N Korea>. However, it added, “Jang, his wife Kim and Vice Marshal Ri are expected to make sure Jong-un survives as the third generation leader and that North Korea hold together at least through the centenary of Kim Il-sung’s birth in 2012.”

Meanwhile, no news found in the media of Venezuela unlike Cuba by Castro announcing official mourning. The major media of Venezuela such as El Nacional only show Chavez.