Condemned

Kim Jong-il, who has died aged 69, was the general secretary of the Workers party of Korea, and head of the military in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). He was one of the most reclusive and widely condemned national leaders of the late 20th and early 21st century, leaving his country diplomatically isolated, economically broken and divided from South Korea.

I have written 'was' because it seems that Great British Railways, which has already survived a near-death experience when Harper took over as Transport Secretary in the autumn, may well be back in the condemned cell.