According to CNN, the broadcaster who broke this news said Kim died due to "overwork" after "dedicating his life to the people."
"It is the biggest loss for the party... and it is our people and nation's biggest sadness," said an anchorwoman on air in North Korea, adding that the country ust "change our sadness to strength and overcome our difficulties."
Kim Jong Il
Earlier this year, reports indicated that Kim was sick with cancer and making the necessary moves to transfer power to his son, Kim Jong Un. But that rumor was never verified and the state of North Korea - one of the most unstable nations on the planet - is currently unknown.
In response to Kim's alleged death, South Korea's military declared an "emergency alert."
The dictator was known for ego and his control over the media, as many in the press, for example, reported that he "routinely" shot three or four holes-in-one per round of golf. On NBC's 30 Rock, a fictionalized version of Kim kidnapped Jack Donaghy's wife.
Photo: WENN.com
