SEOUL, South Korea — Kim Jong-il, the North Korean leader who realized his family’s dream of turning his starving country into a minor nuclear-weapons power even as the isolated nation sank further into despotism, died on Saturday of a heart attack, according to the country’s state-run media. Multimedia Interactive Feature North Korea’s Nuclear Path Under Kim Jong-il Slide Show North Korea’s Elusive Leader Related Kim’s Death Inspires Worries and Anxiety (December 20, 2011) A Ruler Who Turned North Korea Into a Nuclear State (December 19, 2011) The Lede Blog: With Word of Leader’s Death, Come Tears on State TV (December 19, 2011) Times Topics: Kim Jong-il | North Korea Connect With Us on Twitter Follow @nytimesworld for international breaking news and headlines. Readers’ Comments Share your thoughts. Post a Comment » Read All Comments (73) » Within hours of the announcement, the South Korean news agency reported that North Korea tested an unspecified number of short-range missiles on Monday morning. The national news agency, Yonhap, quoting an anonymous government source, said without elaboration that the tests were conducted before the announcement of Mr. Kim’s death. The Defense Ministry in Seoul said it could not comment on the report. The North had kept news of the death of its leader secret for roughly two days, perhaps a sign that the leadership was struggling to position itself for what many believe could be a particularly perilous transition. A few hours after the …
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