As mourning continues among North Koreans following the death of their President Kim Jong Il, the world watches closely for signs of a beckoning power struggle. Tapped to take over as leader is his son Kim Jong Un; a man largely unknown to those outside of the communist country, and the source of possible unrest within the political establishment. Some political observers say that the son’s presidential accession will be anything but smooth. Unproven as a leader, talk of a power vacuum is heating up. Worries of instability come as tensions between and North and South Korea have increased over the last year. North Korea’s firing upon a South Korean ship had led many to believe that military action would result. With Kim Jong Il’s death the international community must refocus its attention from one problem to another. In September 2010 Kim Jong Un was appointed to a major military post, seen as an attempt by his father to groom him for the job as president.
Traveling to North Korea a rare occurrence
Although Americans can be permitted to visit North Korea, the practice is not common. Tension between the two countries has remained high since the two waged war nearly 60 years ago. North Korea’s decision to pursue a nuclear weapons program and carry out testing has only increased political rows. If travel to North Korea is required, travelers must receive official permission and visas from the government before departing the US. In recent years Americans have been arrested and detained for not properly entering the country.
