‘Kim Jong-il gave advice to Berlusconi’

By Lee Ha-na

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il was reported to have written a letter of advice to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who is to resign soon. The letter was published in one of Italy’s most popular political magazines, Limes.

Limes columnist Francesco Sisci said in his Beijing-datelined article he received this letter from officials during his recent visit to Italy. Sisci says that North Korea’s “Dear Leader” might have written the letter and that many are uncertain of its authenticity. Whether it is genuine or a fabrication, the writer states that the letter offers an alluring perspective on Italy, the world, and the current crisis.

The letter unfolds with Dear Mr. Berlusconi, and its opening lines are: “I really envy and admire you for placing your country into an ideal position. I have unsuccessfully tried for decades to be in the same political position, but I have failed where you have triumphed. I salute you.”

The text continues to say that “Italy is now very weak, but is the fuse capable of burning down the whole global economic system and that the default of Italy could bring down the euro, triggering a newer, deeper recession for the continent. This will worsen America’s efforts at economic recovery, and as a consequence, could cause the collapse of the entire global economy.”

Greek Prime Minister Papandreou’s scrapping of his referendum plan is also mentioned in that this leaves Italy on the verge of economic breakdown, which is a huge responsibility Italy must bear, but it also gives Italy the power to blackmail other countries.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy are mentioned as the most powerful Europeans who do not want a strong Italian counterpart to accompany them and that the already scandal-wracked Berlusconi is weak enough to make them think he will bend under their pressure. Thus, they will want to keep him in power.

The letter concludes with “advice” that Berlusconi should exercise caution since he will have many enemies who wish to see him fall. The ending words are, Good luck. With admiration, General Kim Jong-il.