McCain: Kim Jong Il is ‘in a warm corner of hell’

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Monday hailed the death of Kim Jong Il, saying the deceased North Korean leader ran “one of the most totalitarian regimes the world has ever known.”

“The world is a better place now that Kim Jong Il is no longer in it,” McCain said in a statement. “I can only express satisfaction that the Dear Leader is joining the likes of [Gadhafi], Bin Laden, Hitler, and Stalin in a warm corner of hell.”

McCain called on China to work with the United States and allies to transition to a “unified, democratic and independent Korean Peninsula.”

“Prudence and caution” are needed because the situation in North Korea remains volatile, McCain said, adding that the dictator’s death is an opportunity to end the suffering of North Koreans.

The United States continues to monitor the situation in North Korea as Kim Jong Un takes over for his father. A Pentagon official said Monday there weren’t any indications of unusual troop movements being made following Kim Jong Il’s death.

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