I think Jung-Il just made a fatal mistake. I give him one year to live.
Kim Jong-Il clearly is concerned about staying in power and the banking sanctions slapped on the regime last year by the US Treasury Department have brought him desperate times. Development of nuclear weapons is Kim's insurance against an internal coup since it placates the military. According to Rohan Gunaratna on the podcast, Kim enjoys the full support of his top generals... Thus, we are left with no alternatives. Who do we replace him with? And how do we do it in such a way as to stem the flood of refugees that would result? Washington is clearly vying on leading North Korea to the troth as Libya was. Whether this will work or not is another matter.