So for the past 48 hours, I’ve witnessed a lot of excited chatter about the alleged incapacitation of Kim Jong Un. First it was because he’d had surgery and was having a tough time of recovery; then it was because he was in a coma; then it was a vegetative state (which some wag imputed to mean he’d just sampled his first vegetable); and then it was a death, with his sister poised to take over and make totalitarian autocracy the equal-opportunity sport it had always longed to be.
Except here’s the thing. There’s no actual proof that this has occurred.
What there is, are a range of predominantly American news-sites, falling over themselves to report that he’s dead, on the strength of what appear to be unconfirmed rumours.
Meanwhile, South Korea – who are both figuratively and literally closer to the situation than just about anyone – have expressed considerable skepticism, and believe everything’s basically normal (or, at least, as normal as the DPRK-o-sphere ever really gets).
Now, in fairness, it is possible that Kim Jong Un is dead. It is possible that there’s some sort of coup underway and the news he is dead has been put out for some intentionally aimed-for impact. It is possible that Kim Jong Un himself put out the news he is dead, because he saw how much “fun” the whole ‘inject disinfectant’ thing was, and wants to have a go at “JUST A PRANK, BRO – WORLD LEADER EDITION” himself.
All of these things are possible, although I am not sure how many, if any, are actually likely.
For now, he is Schrodinger’s Dictator. The Man In The Box.
And until there is actually some sign one way or ‘tuther from the DPRK, it would be entirely premature to actually believe that these “rumours” you’re all suddenly placing massive credence in, have a solid ring of truth to them.
[And seriously, looking at the American right-wingers around the place – you people turn on a dime! You go inside 24 hours from claiming the media makes up anything and everything to make a leader you like look bad (potentially by playing unaltered clips of him speaking) … through to just taking everything that’s being said about a leader you don’t like (but that your leader kinda likes) at face value because you like how it sounds!]
If one looks into it, it turns out that the DPRK appears to be run by a cabal of necromancers. Because on a reasonably regular basis, we hear a report of this or that general or senior official or music-star that’s supposedly been executed in cartoonish supervillain style ways – only to have them turn up alive and well at some function in public view looking surprisingly healthy for a corpse. Particularly one that’s supposedly been used as mortar or anti-aircraft gun target practice.
This has taught me to have a reasonable degree of skepticism whenever such claims are made. It doesn’t mean that executions, disappearances, or dynastic transfers of power are all an illusion. Only that rumours of some deaths are greatly exaggerated, often by people with an agenda – whether that’s to make the DPRK seem more relatably evil as a narrative antagonist, or simply to sell you something, or especially both at once as they both feed of each other. (the shifting stories o some DRPK defectors can also be viewed in this light)
But who cares. Many of you seem to want a “feel good” news story. Because if the death of one is a tragedy and a million a statistic .. the deaths of tens of thousands amidst the present pandemic can apparently be eclipsed by the admittedly rather large figure of one Hermit King in a missile-transporter hearse.
Have a bit of skepticism, and some care – we don’t know that Kim is Dead. It’s possible that his shade is chilling right now with Saddam’s Weapons of Mass Destruction, instead.
Martyn,
The mind boggles at this time.
We are living in another “twylight zone” arent’ we?
cleangreen: “Martyn”
Curwen, if the byline is correct.
“Fake News! Fake News! Rocket Man is undead! Its all Fake News!”
If he is dead however, we’re not going to know. Why?
Because he’s already in space! He was blasted into space in the last rocket they sent up and will be broadcasting live from a studio somewhere on Mars his first stop and then who knows? The ‘Eternal Leader has got to live forever ay? – HotTake Monday!
Xi’s China is North Korea on a massive scale…
It really isn’t. There are parts of modern China that are harder to visit, particularly in the northwestern areas like Tibet, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia, which are potentially more like North Korea. But foreigners have a fair bit of freedom to live and work in most of China, to come and go, and to travel from region, without prior permission or supervision. Not so, as far as I know, in NK.
Yum .. yeah .. leadership change is coming to North Korea. Pretty sure he’s dead or they’re ready to pull the plug.
They’re just sorting out if his sister will make a good leader. The jig is up, North Korea will open up big time .
Popped up there – twice 2016 and 2017 – purpose was transfer NZ aqua culture expertise -humanitarian – not bombs and rocket or screw drivers .
Its different. No question. But its not as bad as Americans insist,
And, they are accustomed to what they have been – told over decades about evil America
(Cant fault them there) but some is a bit over the top and – not a place I’d retire too. However; The video clip I took and produce here- does provide some evidence that the people are well feed and not many are in chains
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htU75Pg-nIQ&feature=youtu.be
PS Getting paid was a problem – as I say: I’m a humanitarian – a long as I’m paid.
Jeezzzz Ross, you are sounding like Morgan the bike man who praised the regime as he allowed them to travel through Nth Korea….unsure if you both were allowed to wander alone, were you for instance ‘allowed’ to go where you pleased or were you shaperoned by officials and shown what they wanted you to see.
I have seen numerous documentaries and filming and ALL are allowed only via orchestrated visits and placed deemed acceptable to the regime at a time of their choosing.
Can you tell us all that’s not what your experience was and you had free reign to go where and when you pleased, unescorted?
Well Ross Democratic People’s Republic of Korea arose after every multi stories building was bombed flat as well as most of the town and villages with high loss of life.
Prior to this devastation the whole of Korea was one country but from 1910 to 1945 was occupied by Japanese.
When WWII ended the USA led an evacuation of Japanese but the Koreans wanted their country back being sick of foreigners occupying their land.
At the war’s end, the general of the defeated Japanese, Abe Endo, surrendered the reins of self-government to Yo Un Hyung, a politician well regarded in both the south and north of Korea.
Yo participated in the forming of People’s Committees in all Korean provinces and the Korean People’s Republic arose.
However, Japanese general Kozuki Yoshio convinced his American counterpart, general John Hodge, that the new government in Korea was communist.
If it was, then that was Korea’s business not that of Japan nor America.
But the communist-phobic US abolished the government of the Korean People’s Republic, and the United States Army Military Government was installed in the south of a truncated Korea.
War developed and USSR assisted the North.
“The Korean War was among the most destructive conflicts of the modern era, with approximately 3 million war fatalities and a larger proportional civilian death toll than World War II or the Vietnam War. It incurred the destruction of virtually all of Korea’s major cities, thousands of massacres by both sides (including the mass killing of tens of thousands of suspected communists by the South Korean government), and the torture and starvation of prisoners of war by the North Korean command. North Korea became among the most heavily-bombed countries in history.”
Eventually China came in support of the Northern Korea and an armistice was agreed to.
There are regular labour strikes in South Korea in protest of the country being divided and against US domination of their country..
Moves to relax the border or rejoin the two Koreas are resisted by the USA.
Typically according to the US propaganda North Korea is many bad things, but under US Sanctions.
The US needs to pull out and let Koreans plan their own reunification.
North Korea was very heavily bombed by the USA and allies so a long period of rebuilding while under hostile sanctions sees the DPRK now functioning but understandably guarded towards the US and West.
JohnW: You’re exactly right. The content of your comment chimes with the history that I’ve read. Though – unsurprisingly – I found none of it in the msm.
Every commenter here would do well to read and take note of what you’ve written.
This is the best comment ever
Ross Meurant: “Its different. No question. But its not as bad as Americans insist.”
Almost 20 years ago, a relative used to go there to sell stuff. They said much as you’ve said here, even all those years ago.
Commenters here would do well to remember who are the purveyors of much of the propaganda about NK.
I’m always surprised that it’s necessary on a left-wing blog to point out that people need to take msm reportage with a grain of salt. Especially, but not exclusively, US reportage. But clearly it is necessary.
And – a blinding glimpse of the bleeding obvious – the governing arrangements of NK aren’t our business. Or that of any other country.
American state department probably wants to remove his sister from the equation so are promoting her as a successor. Just a thought.
Some of us discussed this a few days back here (sorry can never remember if old school html links work at tdb).
Anyway the general consensus seemed to be was that wishful thinking by a coupla the US funded rightist propaganda outfits, had been snatched up by a desperate amerikan oligarchy who needed to stir shit up about one of orange moron’s few successful diplomatic performances.
These lowlifes may be rethug at heart, but keeping the Military Industrial Complex in top place for mug taxpayer support will always trump promoting a rethug prez of dubious motives. (pun intentional).
There is currently, absolutely no evidence to support the belief Kim has/is about to, kark it.
If he’s suffered from a medical misadventure spare a thought for his surgeon, who has just lost three generations of his/her family.
Richard Christie: “….spare a thought for his surgeon, who has just lost three generations of his/her family.”
And you know this: how?
Be careful what you believe about what’s happening there. I’ve long since learned to take this stuff with a very large handful of salt.
Richard Christie: “….spare a thought for his surgeon, who has just lost three generations of his/her family.”
And you know this: how?
Be careful what you believe about what’s happening there. I’ve long since learned to take this stuff with a very large handful of salt.
If his sister is put up to replace him. The West will try and make her a WokeStar of a New Generation! China wont let it happen suckers!
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