Moderators: LawBeefaroni, $iljanus
I've the same question, with one additional segment - how much is Jr. really in charge?msduncan wrote:The question is:
Is this more posturing, or does Jr. believe what his daddy spouted?
And Ceaușescu gets executed. I doubt anyone in his inner circle is suggesting opening up the system in any substantial way because that inner circle would then lose their special privileges (and corruption rights) in the short term, and run a substantial risk of trial and possible execution long-term, either via a Korean court or via the ICC.Holman wrote:I wonder if there's anyone in Junior's (Grandjunior's?) inner circle suggesting how much he has to gain from opening up the system and dispensing with complete totalitarianism. Even limited reform would make him look like a world hero. Andropov gets Moscow, but Gorbachev gets Paris.
Good point, but Ceaușescu got executed after years of personal tyranny. Young man Kim is ideally positioned to usher in velvet revisions without bearing responsibility for the crimes that made his rule possible. If he has any sense of narrative (or even an eye for the rewards that await him), he'll put on the reformer halo for the win-win.El Guapo wrote:And Ceaușescu gets executed. I doubt anyone in his inner circle is suggesting opening up the system in any substantial way because that inner circle would then lose their special privileges (and corruption rights) in the short term, and run a substantial risk of trial and possible execution long-term, either via a Korean court or via the ICC.Holman wrote:I wonder if there's anyone in Junior's (Grandjunior's?) inner circle suggesting how much he has to gain from opening up the system and dispensing with complete totalitarianism. Even limited reform would make him look like a world hero. Andropov gets Moscow, but Gorbachev gets Paris.
There is the dictator's gambit of opening up the system slightly, like allowing economic but not political freedoms. But then that's a difficult thing to manage - hence maxim that a dictatorship is never so unstable as when it tries to reform.
He really is progressive. His father just looked at things.Daehawk wrote:Boy man Kim Jong Un points at something.
The accusation of coup-planning seems like BS, especially since Jang Song-thaek was known for his strong ties to China, which clearly has an interest in NK stability and (insofar as that is possible) sanity.North Korea said on Friday that Jang Song-thaek, the uncle of its leader Kim Jong-un and considered his mentor, was executed for trying to mobilize the military to stage a coup.
Mr. Jang, 67, was executed on Thursday, immediately after he was convicted in a special military court on charges of violating the North’s criminal code, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency.
“He lost his mind due to his greed for power,” the news agency reported. “He persistently plotted to spread his evil design into the military, believing that he could overthrow the leadership if he could mobilize the military.”
Even before the execution, the purge had raised worries in the United States and South Korea that Mr. Kim might now lash out at those he considers enemies, possibly staging another nuclear test or instigating a conflict with the South at sea. China, the North’s patron, was also unnerved by mounting evidence of an internal power struggle that could destabilize its already troublesome ally.
It wasn't enough BS, apparently. They also accused him of being a gambling, womanizing, drug using alcoholic in the charges. They said he lived a "dissolute and depraved life." I'm no psychologist but I think I can sum it up in 4 words:Holman wrote: The accusation of coup-planning seems like BS, especially since Jang Song-thaek was known for his strong ties to China, which clearly has an interest in NK stability and (insofar as that is possible) sanity.
Weren't murders like this normal politics in ancient and medieval courts, or have I seen too many historical plays and movies? We already knew that Kim is a bloodthirsty god-king. Or did we only suspect as much before this?Alexandre Monsourav, a specialist in North Korea at the U.S.–Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies, said Kim is sending a alarming message to the U.S.:
"Kim Jong Un is willing to kill his own blood. He’s showing that really he has no mercy or pity. To me it’s a very worrisome sign. You see these extremist actions, you really have to take it very seriously."
Monsourav added, "Whether it’s his young age or personal insecurity making him do this, we need to be very careful around him."
But he sure do love him some Dennis Rodman.Kraken wrote:I was wondering why we should care about NK palace intrigue when I happened upon this perspective:
Weren't murders like this normal politics in ancient and medieval courts, or have I seen too many historical plays and movies? We already knew that Kim is a bloodthirsty god-king. Or did we only suspect as much before this?Alexandre Monsourav, a specialist in North Korea at the U.S.–Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies, said Kim is sending a alarming message to the U.S.:
"Kim Jong Un is willing to kill his own blood. He’s showing that really he has no mercy or pity. To me it’s a very worrisome sign. You see these extremist actions, you really have to take it very seriously."
Monsourav added, "Whether it’s his young age or personal insecurity making him do this, we need to be very careful around him."
I think there was a hope that he wasmore predictable and less barbaric. It would seem the evidence indicates otherwise.Kraken wrote:I was wondering why we should care about NK palace intrigue when I happened upon this perspective:
Weren't murders like this normal politics in ancient and medieval courts, or have I seen too many historical plays and movies? We already knew that Kim is a bloodthirsty god-king. Or did we only suspect as much before this?Alexandre Monsourav, a specialist in North Korea at the U.S.–Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies, said Kim is sending a alarming message to the U.S.:
"Kim Jong Un is willing to kill his own blood. He’s showing that really he has no mercy or pity. To me it’s a very worrisome sign. You see these extremist actions, you really have to take it very seriously."
Monsourav added, "Whether it’s his young age or personal insecurity making him do this, we need to be very careful around him."
Who would have ever thought that he'd be playing host to Dennis Rodman, ever? Rodman's unpredictable, so I guess it's the great minds think alike thing, although I'm not sure on how great either of their minds are.Rip wrote:I think there was a hope that he wasmore predictable and less barbaric. It would seem the evidence indicates otherwise.Kraken wrote:I was wondering why we should care about NK palace intrigue when I happened upon this perspective:
Weren't murders like this normal politics in ancient and medieval courts, or have I seen too many historical plays and movies? We already knew that Kim is a bloodthirsty god-king. Or did we only suspect as much before this?Alexandre Monsourav, a specialist in North Korea at the U.S.–Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies, said Kim is sending a alarming message to the U.S.:
"Kim Jong Un is willing to kill his own blood. He’s showing that really he has no mercy or pity. To me it’s a very worrisome sign. You see these extremist actions, you really have to take it very seriously."
Monsourav added, "Whether it’s his young age or personal insecurity making him do this, we need to be very careful around him."
I really enjoyed the Vice guide to north korea, I think it was posted here somewhere.JSHAW wrote:Who would have ever thought that he'd be playing host to Dennis Rodman, ever? Rodman's unpredictable, so I guess it's the great minds think alike thing, although I'm not sure on how great either of their minds are.Rip wrote:I think there was a hope that he wasmore predictable and less barbaric. It would seem the evidence indicates otherwise.Kraken wrote:I was wondering why we should care about NK palace intrigue when I happened upon this perspective:
Weren't murders like this normal politics in ancient and medieval courts, or have I seen too many historical plays and movies? We already knew that Kim is a bloodthirsty god-king. Or did we only suspect as much before this?Alexandre Monsourav, a specialist in North Korea at the U.S.–Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies, said Kim is sending a alarming message to the U.S.:
"Kim Jong Un is willing to kill his own blood. He’s showing that really he has no mercy or pity. To me it’s a very worrisome sign. You see these extremist actions, you really have to take it very seriously."
Monsourav added, "Whether it’s his young age or personal insecurity making him do this, we need to be very careful around him."
There's a series on HBO that goes undercover to places all over the globe. They did an episode on Rodman's trip to NK, and it was really interesting.
They had unprecedented access to some places that have never been seen. They went to one city where they have all these buildings, and they're ALL empty. And no one is there, it's very quiet like everyone that was once there just vanished. They were there filiming with their state sponsored tour guides.
They showed how he and his team got on the invite list with Rodman, and how they were wined and dined by Kim Jong Un, how he has a real love of basketball which is how he got connected to Rodman.
I've always felt that NK is like this small country that doesn't get much attention overall, so it's leaders do crazy stunts to get noticed and get attention from the world's major players. They're like "'yes we're a small country but we can still fuck some shit up, so don't think we won't because we will, so give us some love."
I don't think we have to look back farther than the 1930's for Kim's models. I'm surprised the uncle didn't get a show trial.Kraken wrote:I was wondering why we should care about NK palace intrigue when I happened upon this perspective:
Weren't murders like this normal politics in ancient and medieval courts, or have I seen too many historical plays and movies? We already knew that Kim is a bloodthirsty god-king. Or did we only suspect as much before this?Alexandre Monsourav, a specialist in North Korea at the U.S.–Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies, said Kim is sending a alarming message to the U.S.:
"Kim Jong Un is willing to kill his own blood. He’s showing that really he has no mercy or pity. To me it’s a very worrisome sign. You see these extremist actions, you really have to take it very seriously."
Monsourav added, "Whether it’s his young age or personal insecurity making him do this, we need to be very careful around him."
For someone that is supposed to be a specialist in NK, he doesn't seem to get it right. The uncle is not Kim Jong Un's blood. The guy became his uncle by marrying his aunt.Kraken wrote:I was wondering why we should care about NK palace intrigue when I happened upon this perspective:
Weren't murders like this normal politics in ancient and medieval courts, or have I seen too many historical plays and movies? We already knew that Kim is a bloodthirsty god-king. Or did we only suspect as much before this?Alexandre Monsourav, a specialist in North Korea at the U.S.–Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies, said Kim is sending a alarming message to the U.S.:
"Kim Jong Un is willing to kill his own blood. He’s showing that really he has no mercy or pity. To me it’s a very worrisome sign. You see these extremist actions, you really have to take it very seriously."
Monsourav added, "Whether it’s his young age or personal insecurity making him do this, we need to be very careful around him."
A fax?Seoul, South Korea (CNN) -- North Korea sent a fax to South Korea on Thursday, threatening to "strike mercilessly without notice" after protests against the secretive regime this week in Seoul.
The message warned that North Korea would strike if "the provocation against our highest dignity is to be repeated in the downtown of Seoul."
"You have no chance to survive make your time."LordMortis wrote:The message warned that North Korea would strike if "the provocation against our highest dignity is to be repeated in the downtown of Seoul."
| Running__ | __2014: 1300.55 miles__ | __2015: 2036.13 miles__ | __2016: 1012.75 miles__ | __2017: 1105.82 miles__ | __2018: 1318.91 miles | __2019: 2000.00 miles |
The execution of the uncle of Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s leader, had its roots in a firefight between forces loyal to Mr. Kim and those supporting the man who was supposed to be his regent, according to accounts that are being pieced together by South Korean and American officials. The clash was over who would profit from North Korea’s most lucrative exports: coal, clams and crabs.
North Korean military forces were deployed to retake control of one of the sources of those exports, the rich crab and clam fishing grounds that Jang Song-thaek, the uncle of the country’s untested, 30-year-old leader, had seized from the military. In the battle for control of the fishing grounds, the emaciated, poorly trained North Korean forces “were beaten — very badly — by Uncle Jang’s loyalists,” according to one official.
The rout of his forces appears to have been the final straw for Mr. Kim, who saw his 67-year-old uncle as a threat to his authority over the military and, just as important, to his own family’s dwindling sources of revenue. Eventually, at Mr. Kim’s order, the North Korean military came back with a larger force and prevailed.
Kim’s powerful uncle was stripped naked, thrown into a cage, and eaten alive by the pack of ravenous dogs in a punishment for treason, according to a newspaper with close ties to China’s ruling Communist Party.
The dogs were allegedly starved for five days before the execution.
...
The men had been starved for three days before being set on by the dogs in a process known as “quan jue”, or execution by dogs.
Kim and his brother Kim Jong Chol supervised the one-hour ordeal along with 300 other officials, Wen Wei Po reported. The large gathering was made to watch to get across a clear message — anyone who challenges Kim will be severely punished.
The newspaper added that Jang and other aides were “completely eaten up.”
This is due to our superior way of life in the paradise that is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Even our traitors look fabulous.hepcat wrote:Damn, he's got some nice gams for a man of his age. Look at those getaway sticks.
If he keeps working on it, his skills in diplomacy may rise to the level of his shooting skills.
He's fried. On that CNN clip he sounds like a 70-year-old drunk in his 8th hour at the pub.Carpet_pissr wrote:I have no idea what his financial situation is, but maybe even Rodman is not direct enough to bring himself to say "I'm doing it because he pays me in more hookers and blow than you can shake a stick at, OK?! 24-7 parties, man, unlimited, top shelf booze, drivers, personal assistants, personal chefs, all for me! Not to mention the 3 million dollar "hospitality" bonus he wires to my account every Christmas."
