Kim Jong Il: Dead!

Kim Jong Il, the leader of North Korea since 1994 and a dangerous man known for a number of eccentricities, reportedly passed away yesterday morning on a train.

The tyrannical despot was 69.

According to CNN, the broadcaster who broke the news on state television 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 despondent country must "change our sadness to strength and overcome our difficulties."

Good luck with that.

Kim Jong Il Dead: Report

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. That rumor was never verified, however, and the state of North Korea - one of the most secretive nations on Earth - is unclear.

The North kept news of the death of its leader secret for about two days, perhaps a sign that the leadership was struggling to position itself for an unstable transition.

A few hours after the announcement, the powerful Workers' Party and officials implied Kim's chosen successor, his youngest son, Kim Jong-un, was in fact in charge.

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, among other absolute absurdities, as part of his personality cult.

[Photos: WENN.com]