manny
07-31-2004, 05:22 PM
The Cult of Kim
Key events:
1942 - thunder and lightening herald Kim's birth on the sacred peak of Mount Paektu
1960s - as a student Kim amazes professors with his learned essays on socialism
1974 - publishes "Kim Jong Il: On the Art of Opera" (has also written on Cinema)
1978 - kidnaps South Korean film director Shin Sang Ok and actress wife Choi Eun Hee
1994 - death of father Kim Il Sung
1998 - Kim Il Sung declared "eternal president"
2002 - double rainbows and waterspouts accompany Kim's train journey to Moscow
Korean rulers have traditionally enjoyed an almost worshipful respect even in death. Kim Jong Il has increased his personal hold over the Korean people by skillfully exploiting the godlike cult status his father, Kim Il Sung, enjoyed.
Kim's official history includes tales of brilliance as a student, prodigious musical, cinematic and sporting talent - he is said to be particularly gifted at golf - and his progress through life has been accompanied by amazing natural wonders.
However, Kim himself appears to be able separate reality from the official fantasy. In 2000, then US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright visited Pyongyang and found Kim "on top of his brief" and non-delusional.
http://abcasiapacific.com/koreas/leadership/kimjongil_4.htm
http://210.145.168.243/pk/Gen_Secy_Kim/kji_chrono/Gen_Sec__Kim_Jong_Il.jpg
Key events:
1942 - thunder and lightening herald Kim's birth on the sacred peak of Mount Paektu
1960s - as a student Kim amazes professors with his learned essays on socialism
1974 - publishes "Kim Jong Il: On the Art of Opera" (has also written on Cinema)
1978 - kidnaps South Korean film director Shin Sang Ok and actress wife Choi Eun Hee
1994 - death of father Kim Il Sung
1998 - Kim Il Sung declared "eternal president"
2002 - double rainbows and waterspouts accompany Kim's train journey to Moscow
Korean rulers have traditionally enjoyed an almost worshipful respect even in death. Kim Jong Il has increased his personal hold over the Korean people by skillfully exploiting the godlike cult status his father, Kim Il Sung, enjoyed.
Kim's official history includes tales of brilliance as a student, prodigious musical, cinematic and sporting talent - he is said to be particularly gifted at golf - and his progress through life has been accompanied by amazing natural wonders.
However, Kim himself appears to be able separate reality from the official fantasy. In 2000, then US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright visited Pyongyang and found Kim "on top of his brief" and non-delusional.
http://abcasiapacific.com/koreas/leadership/kimjongil_4.htm
http://210.145.168.243/pk/Gen_Secy_Kim/kji_chrono/Gen_Sec__Kim_Jong_Il.jpg