Kim Jong Il has died

[Bob]

Yes, interesting stuff indeed. I read a FANTASTIC (but also horrifying) book on North Korea a few months ago:

Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader: North Korea and the Kim Dynasty - Bradley K. Martin

This book is packed with so much detail on what real people went through and how the government worked (largely based on interviews with exiles) that it is almost unbelievable some times. HIGHLY recommended.

I've had visiting DPRK on my list for 2-3 years now and each time delayed it (went to other interesting places... Yemen, Syria, Libya, Turkmenistan, etc.) - I may have to pull DPRK forward - things should be very interesting there!