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Kim Jong Il Dead: Stephen Harper Urges North Korea To Close 'Sad Chapter' In Their History

Kim Jong Il Death Stephen Harper

First Posted: 12/19/11 10:46 AM ET Updated: 12/19/11 01:25 PM ET

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OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper is urging North Korea to work toward promoting both the well-being of its people and stability on the Korean peninsula.

Harper, commenting on the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il over the weekend, says he hopes Kim's passing will bring positive change to the isolated country.

He says Kim will be remembered as the leader of a totalitarian regime who violated the basic rights of the North Korean people for nearly two decades.

He's urging North Korea to close what he calls a "sad chapter in its history" and to work for peace.

Kim died of a heart attack Saturday while carrying out official duties on a train trip. He was 69.

The government has since proclaimed Kim's twenty-something son Kim Jong Un as his successor.

Correction: An earlier version said Kim Jong Il died of heart failure. He died of a heart attack.

ON FACEBOOK: Read the Prime Minister's complete statement.

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In this Aug. 24, 2011 file photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, listens to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, unseen, during a meeting an a military garrison, outside Ulan-Ude. North Korean television announced Monday, Dec. 19, 2011 in a "special broadcast" that its leader Kim Jong Il has died in Pyongyang. (AP)
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OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper is urging North Korea to work toward promoting both the well-being of its people and stability on the Korean peninsula. Harper, commenting on the death of Nor...
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper is urging North Korea to work toward promoting both the well-being of its people and stability on the Korean peninsula. Harper, commenting on the death of Nor...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
DirkNeptune
I love raspberry pie, damn it.
165 Fans
09:13 AM on 12/20/2011
Just after his rant against the North Korean totalitarian regime, Harper put the finishing touches on his bill to spy on Canadians online without a warrant...
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logicanada
Blogger, radio co-host, writer, editor, voice-over
1840 Fans
 
11:21 PM on 12/19/2011
Harper urges closing their sad chapter . . . while he begins the sad chapter of ours.
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mrjohncade
1 Fans
 
10:30 PM on 12/19/2011
Before today, did Steven know who Kim Jong II was.....
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CarlyQ
Without followers, evil cannot spread.
828 Fans
04:04 PM on 12/19/2011
What Harper really means is that he admires the man and wishes Canada's progress into totalitarianism was complete enough to have given him the opportunity for indefinite rule as well.
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GetRealView
87 Fans
01:00 AM on 12/20/2011
Harper made a good start when he proroged Parliament.
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Miroslav Plachy
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03:50 PM on 12/19/2011
I hope harpos son doesn't take the country over after harpo passes.
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uneeda
Make Peace in Our Time
127 Fans
01:24 PM on 12/19/2011
harpo's notion that anybody in north korea is interested in anything he has to say indicates chutzpah overload
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