Fact: Kim Jong Il has been ill for some time.
Historical Reality: Succession in a dictatorship usually falls to the most ruthless, vicious, devious, unscrupulous, brutal, and swift (see Stalin succeeding Lenin for an example.)
Biological Reality: 1. A wounded animal is extremely dangerous. 2. Wounded/old/dying Alpha males are attacked by young males seeking to become the new Alpha and these males will eliminate any and all competition for that Alpha spot (see Lions, Wolves, etc.)
From this we may conclude that if KJI is still in power he is ruthlessly holding it and is extremely dangerous. If KJI loses power, whomever replaces him will be the most ruthless, vicious, and brutal, and swift (if not devious, unscrupulous) of KJI’s potential successors.
In other words North Korea is and will be ruled by a brutal, vicious killer armed with nuclear weapons, missiles, and a very large army who does not live by or obey “international law” but by the basic “law of the jungle.” President Obama must understand this if he is to have any success in managing the current crisis and in his long term dealings with North Korea.
The North Koreans are serious “Hard Men” and have no use for weakness.