Kim Jong Il returns to the Land of the Living

Miracles abound. The second Dear (departed) Leader of North Korea has returned to this mortal coil, embalmed in sweet smelling oils and other essential preservatives (of a more functional nature).  Pictures appear to show him dressed in the same sort of khaki jumpsuit he always wore (it could be a onesie of course but I’m not sure how fashionable they are in North Korea yet) He is lying there peacefully and apparently snoozing, covered in a nice bright red  blanket.

Given that Kim Jong Il has been afforded the status of a near immortal in North Korea, his reappearance so soon after his passing is presumably an event of some excitement. Perhaps his return to the land of the living is a reward for North Korea's military finally being able to launch a rocket without it falling back on top of them (see Mr Kim's expensive firework).  This same rocket also launched a satellite which was given his nickname, Kwangmyongsong, so he was probably very excited (apparently that passes for a term of endearment in North Korea, although it’s unlikely many impoverished and long suffering North Koreans feel much genuine endearment towards him).

He is also happily accepting visitors including members of the press, which is probably more than he did in life. This surely demonstrates the good, humanising effect that mortality has had on him. Well-wishers are able to spend some time in his hallowed company (not much mind you, he is a busy fellow these day). Reports are that he is not very talkative yet, and doesn't make even the most rudimentary of hand gestures.  Supplicants are expected to bow and scape at his feet before shuffling past him, as he lies there, looking slightly perma-tanned with a benevolent and wise expression on his face. He is encased in glass, a bit like a sort of horizontal pope mobile but without the wheels, and surrounded by nice flowers instead. Perhaps he doesn’t want all those well-wishers breathing all over him.

Yet, perhaps Kim's return does herald a change for North Korea. His son, and successor, Kim Jong-un (AKA Kim 3) may recognise he needs to do more to resuscitate the sclerotic North Korea economy. So, his first move was to have his father stuffed and then put on public display as some kind of macabre tourist attraction. Perhaps the next step is to charge foreign devils to gulp and gawp at the mortal remains of the repulsive old monster. Who said entrepreneurship was dead in North Korea....

Also see Three Kims for the price of one.