PYONGYANG, NK- After more than five years as the charismatic, bespectacled front man for the Axis of Evil, North Korean leader Kim Jung Il now says he wants out. While saddened followers of the rogue nation super-group might call this the end of an era, it now appears that even Jung Il would admit that his era may have ended some time ago.

"It's been a good run, it really has, but I think we're headed in different directions," said Jung Il. "I've thought about this for a long time, and I decided that it would be best to go out on top- before people start complaining that we're not as evil as we used to be. I'm at peace with my choice, and I wish all the best for the Axis of Evil."

The group's manager George W. Bush has refused to accept North Korea's departure, reminding Jung Il that, like it or not, he has at least 16 months left on his contract. As far as Bush is concerned, North Korea will always be part of the Axis of Evil, voluntarily or otherwise.

"You think you can just walk away from everything I built for you?," Bush demanded. "I made you, Kim. Don't you ever forget that!"

According to those who know them best, this downward spiral began when members of the AoE started "experimenting" with nuclear substances back in the 1980's and 90's. Introduced to the stuff at a party, Axis members found that they liked it a great deal. Before long, enriched plutonium became an all-consuming desire- at the expense of the group's other evil activities. Even when this fruitless pursuit ended up costing founding AoE member Saddam Hussein his life, the surviving two remained as determined as ever to feed the green glowing monkeys on their backs. By the time North Korea has entered into a twelve step nuclear abstinence program earlier this year, it seemed fairly clear that the Axis could not continue with its current lineup.

Some insiders have hinted that Jung Il's attempt to leave the Axis is little more than a rouse, part of an ongoing contractual dispute. However, this might have more to do with jealousy than anything else. With all the attention being focused on fellow AoE member Iran at the moment, this may have prompted North Korea to get "clean" as a means of earning the world's attention in a different way.

Still, if North Korea does manage to wrestle out of its contract and leave the Axis of Evil, perhaps the time is right to add a pair of newcomers to the list to keep Iran company. As a matter of fact, building in the idea of regular turnover might do the Axis a great deal of good, a bit like the Menudo of international skullduggery. Speculation in that regard is rampant in Washington at the moment- everything from Syria for supporting Iran to much to Canada and Great Britain for not supporting the US enough.

For the moment, followers of the Axis are trying to remain positive and remember the good times.

"I saw them at the UN anti-proliferation conference in 2002 and they were totally evil," said one Axis of Evil fan. "Since Saddam's death, though, it just hasn't been the same. To be honest, I kinda hope it's all over now. I can't bear the thought of a reconfigured Axis showing up at some chili cook off in Ohio to pick up extra cash. That'd just be sad."

Contrary to the rumors on the Internet, Jung Il maintains that he has no plans to reunite with the Axis any time soon, though he refused to rule it out, either. More likely than not, North Korea will produce some solo evil after a well-earned hiatus.