Kim Jong-Il

My Korean studies professors might be appalled if they know that I have been reading The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding North Korea, Dr. C. Kenneth Quinones and Joseph Tragert (Alpha 2003).

But the book - certainly easy to read - does contain interesting (though probably unverified, if not suspected) snippets of information about the Hermit Kingdom.

Such as the author's speculation that Kim Jong-Il probably wore large, dark sunglasses because of "eye problems."

"Kim is a diabetic and probably has cataracts. He wore sunglasses to protect his eyes from bright sunshine. But he may have had the cataracts removed during his 2001 trip to Moscow. Ever since that trip, which took him across Siberia by train, he has appeared less frequently wearing sunglasses," the authors wrote.

Kim's father Kim Il Sung was described as a smart investor whose Taesong Investment company, a firm registered in the United Kingdom, deals in stocks on the London Exchange, and trades precious metals, especially in gold, in Europe's markets. The Kim family is said to maintain large secret accounts in Swiss banks.

Even though Kim is reportedly famous for giving away Rolex watches and luxury cars to trusted generals and officials, "he apparently does not relish such status symbols."