He stated Kim is believed to have suffered from a extreme blood infection & acute heart failure before he died. He opposed the country’s military dictators for decades and laid the foundation for a peaceful power transfer as president.
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He balked at the Clinton administration’s idea of striking a North Korean nuclear complex in 1994.
In recent years, Mr. Kim had been treated for stroke, angina and pneumonia, Oh said.
Kim’s popularity nosedived after a few of South Korea’s biggest companies collapsed during the Asian financial crisis in 1997, prompting the country to seek emergency aid through the worldwide Monetary Fund. During his term he also saw his son arrested on charges of bribery and tax evasion, dealing a blow to his legacy as an anti-corruption fighter.
“Now that the United Nations is being abused as a theatre for hurling slanders at the DPRK under the manipulation of the USA and the West, the DPRK will take corresponding measures”, the spokesman said, without elaborating.
Also in attendance was the opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy Chairman Moon Jae-in, who noted the late Kim’s achievements: “He led the democratic movement, established a civilian government, enabled economic justice through the real-name financial transaction system and started a new trend of property registration for public officials”.
South Korea said planned military firing drills would go ahead on Monday near a disputed maritime border with North Korea, which has threatened “merciless retaliation” if Seoul fires into its waters on the anniversary of a 2010 bombing that killed four people. Kim Jong Il was the father of Kim Jong Un.
In 1954, Kim was elected as the youngest member of the National Assembly, though he was expelled in 1979 for anti-government activities. He belonged to the ruling party of Syngman Rhee, South Korea’s first president, but he left over a constitutional revision and joined the opposition, drawing anger from military rulers.
During the chaotic period, Maj. Gen. Chun Doo-hwan and his military cronies rolled tanks and troops into Seoul to seize power in another coup that ended an interim government.
In early 1980s, Kim was placed under house arrest twice that lasted two years, during which he staged a 23-day hunger strike to protest political oppressions.
He would go on to win the next election in 1992 and served as president from 1993 to 1998 under the 1987 constitution that to this day allows for a single five-year term.
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Kim’s son Hyon-chul was at his side during his final moments, but his wife Son Myung-soon was unable to be there.
