5 things the world hated most about Kim Jong Il

North Korea's "Dear Leader" dies at the age of 69, and will likely be remembered as an egotistical despot who was enigmatic, colorful, and cruel

Beyond his excessive and eccentric style, Kim Jong Il's rule may be most remembered for his nuclear battles and the famine he has inflicted on his citizens.
(Image credit: KCNA/Xinhua Press/Corbis)

After 17 years of tumultuous rule, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il died Saturday at the age of 69. The mercurial, enigmatic dictator —who came to power when his father, who founded North Korea, died in 1994 — was one of the most combative and colorful despots in modern history. As the world debates what's next for the isolated, poverty-stricken North Korea, here's a look at five things that defined Kim Jong Il's rule:

1. His unquestioned, absolute authority

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