| | Little was known about Kim Jong-II when he succeeded his father Kim II-sung in 1994. He had the reputation of being a vain playboy and many analysts immediately predicted the imminent collapse of the Communist regime in North Korea. On the contrary, he has remained in power for more than a decade. He is seen as the mastermind behind North Korea's nuclear programme. Many human rights watch groups have said that millions of Koreans perform forced labour in prison camps created to punish alleged political dissidents and their families. | |  |
