Kim Jong-Il Is Dead

Not with hierarchical obsession NK has, I wonder how many Generals are going to accept being led by a young man.

KJI became the chairman when he was 52 and had over decades of heir training. I don't really like where this is going, although it's too early to say.

x4 Thein Sein (President of Burma) - Having a change of heart.

edited 19th Dec '11 5:02:09 AM by GiantRobots

Kim Jung Un, or as PKR media calls him, the brillian comrade, has one point on his favour.

His striking resemblance to the Eternal President i.e Kim Il Sung.

This might not seem like much to as westerners. But various defectors have stated that they all hold Kim Il Sung in very high regard (remember... this from the guys who had the guts to scape the PKR). He is like a God over there. Not even Kim Jong Il was able to match his personality cult during his decades in power.

Now... it all comes down as to whether he is able to sieze some power, and capitalize on this advantage, or else whether he becomes a figure-head.

edited 19th Dec '11 5:12:37 AM by Baff

He was a great comedian.

Now seriously, I think nothing will change.

Have you been paying attention this year? When people say "nothing will change", it usually signals massive changes in the future.

edited 19th Dec '11 5:24:26 AM by dRoy

I got £5 on there being a succession crisis by the end of either this year or 2012

I will take on your bet.

Anyways... I feel sorry for the poor ppl of the KPC. Its truly a dystopia.

@Savage Heathen: Was that directed at me? Because that's not really what I meant. I was hoping for some changes as well. And the young, western educated Jong Un seem like a better bet for changes than the old fanatics, however small that chance can be. Or he could be even more delusional than his father. Who know? Let's just watch them for now.

The way people were mourning in the broadcast, the people are genuinely grieved by his death. Brainwash, much?

There are many explanations.

1). They Truly fear sorry 2). They are forced to or have to 3). They use the oportunity to let out their own grivences while saying they are mourning the dear leader.

Chances are its a mix of the last 3. But they are not mourning nearly as hard as they did when the Eternal Leader passed away:

edited 19th Dec '11 5:42:34 AM by Baff

There's a sort of 23 million people Stockholm Syndrome thing going on over there.

Seoul is right on the border. It's destruction would be almost assured.

Also, if war happened nukes would be used. The North Koreans would be out of options. Fortunately/Unfortunately, they have almost no aiming system.

Not sure I would be celebrating this one. Bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud was one of the more liberal members of the family. His death put a hardline conservative in his place as the crown prince. All the reforms that the current Saudi King has made are likely to be undone once he comes into power.

edited 19th Dec '11 5:48:32 AM by Pentadragon

True. Saudi politics aren't my strong point, sadly.

A state leader is like a parent, even if they were lousy, the citizens/children will mourn. And most Koreans wouldn't really even know that how totalitarian their life is, since they have no point of comparison.

That, and like with the death of Stalin, and great many of similar figures, a lot of the people do feel that the leader had kept the country safe for years. I'm not saying he was a great leader, but to the people of North Korea, he was a hero. Even if their view was blinded.

Something similar happened in Iran with Ayatollah khomeini, his succesor was actually more of a hard-liner.

Had a more liberal cleric succeded him then maybe Iran would be somewhat less of a hideous theocratic state.

And as with Kim Jong Il. Even I felt shocked! Sure it was more of a pleasent surprise but most news dont triger in me a response at all.

edited 19th Dec '11 5:57:36 AM by Baff

That, and containment policy, coupled with constant military threat is a perfect excuse for any country to become totalitarian. Not saying that USA and Israel are to blame for Iranian totalitarianism, but they're not exactly helping. When the people believe that the enemy can attack them with fifteen minutes warning time, they will approve of their leaders doing anything in the name of defense.

Didn't the Finns have less than that against the Soviets? I know us British had the "Four-Minute Warning", but Finland is right next door to Russia...

^ Less than a minute to travel from the USSR to Finland. About six minutes for missiles to travel from Cuba to Washington DC. About 22 minutes for missiles to travel from USSR to United States.

North Korea to South Korea is something like thirty seconds.

And less than four minutes between the USSR and UK.

Lets remember Kim Jong Un has the backing of his auncle, who is the vice chairman of something important over there. I think the Communist party, and of his aunt who is a 4 star general.

edited 19th Dec '11 7:41:40 AM by Baff

@The Bat Pencil: You for got Saddam.

In 2011?