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Succession Crisis in North Korea?

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    Sen. Mark Kirk sounds off

  • Duration 4:21
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For more on this let's bring in Illinois senator Mark Kirk who visited North Korea two times back in 1998 and 99 as a congressional staffer.

With the White House international relations committee.

You were there to help supervise.

UN food delivery deliveries essentially correct senator what did you see.

I saw one of the poorest countries on earth far -- than many sub saharan African countries.

And a country where power is largely concentrated on the capital city of Pyongyang.

And not well exercised far from the center of -- political life there.

Kim Jung -- has anointed his son Kim Jong-un apparently to become the new leader of that country this -- 27 or 28 years old.

He's been appointed a four star general in the military but as far as we know has no military experience right.

That's right -- apparently was born and nineteen 8483.

That make some 2930 years old.

And he has no military experience in the key issue tonight is -- get the loyalty of key north Korean army corps commanders.

If he does not we have a very unstable situation.

And many ways to win power in North Korea is to demonstrate.

Some adventure on the military side against -- South Korea.

That's why South -- forces are on alert today.

And that the United States should back up our South Korean allies saying no military -- should be made regardless of the succession crisis in Pyongyang.

I know that often and just nobody in Washington has a great deal of information about this country or its leadership you might be one of the better informed just by virtue of the fact that you've actually.

Visited there are other senators knocking on your doors and asking you for information about this place.

While the senate this currently -- -- recess but I would say that that power is more fragmented that you would think in North Korea.

That apparently Kim -- -- uncle will be serving as somewhat of -- regents here.

And we will see a succession crisis that play out over the coming weeks seeing if he can really gain that true loyalty of the North Korean Army.

Or if somehow the generals don't want to see this thirty year old with no military experience taking power.

And then we would see yet quite a bit at -- instability inside the North Korean Army.

Talk about succession and changes in power we are getting ready to elect or reelect a president in this country.

You have cash your lot with a Mitt Romney a lot of people were surprised by that tell us why.

I think because he's a competent manager.

Because his expertise is an economics.

Because he was a Republican conservative governor that very democratic state and able to work across the lines.

I think he is the best chance to well win the presidency.

And I think we need in new leader while Barack Obama inherited a terrible situation.

I think it's clear he made it worse and bringing things back to this center writes I think -- really help this economy.

A lot of people were surprised that you were elected with Tea Party support some thought you might go for -- Rick Perry or Michelle Bachmann but it's Mitt Romney.

That's right and I think they'll also the state of Illinois may have a bigger role to play we had an online poll Mitt Romney won the in person voting round.

Paul run the the online voting.

We expect now that the Republican nomination may be fought out through April.

-- that means that the Illinois primary march 20 may make a big difference for the candidate in question.

That means about five more months of calling you in the talk to us about little bit of politics editor I hope you'll answer the call -- 51 of those people also that thinks that tough primaries make good general election candidacies I don't really ever agree with that clearing the field.

I think if the Republican primary is a long waged battle between speaker Gingrich and Mitt Romney.

It actually means the Republican candidate will be stronger because the country able talk about Republican issues especially fiscal conservatism.

For many more months than would otherwise happen senator Mark Kirk who surprise many people by winning the Illinois senate seat as a Republican senator thank you.

Thank you.

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