North Korea: Threat or Blackmailer?

[over the mountain]

Originally Posted by That Guy

those video effects are like, straight out of the 40's. it's actually pretty funny, if the guy on the other end wasn't potentially crazy.

Yeah, half of me thinks the video is pretty awesome, the other half knows that some crazy guy is for real.

I feel so bad for north koreans. they have recently been told to prepare for a famine and to eat grass roots. if you try to leave, your extended family is placed in work prison or killed.

i thought perhaps this son would be more civilized since he studied in europe and would just be more worldly ... but he seems to be worse.

isnt his brother like partying at raves in france? or at least was 5 years or so ago

[That Guy]

the problem is internal politics. nk kept the upper class happy by putting them on the payroll, but the upper class got expanded way beyond what they could afford, so there had to be people cut out there, which isn't good when you're trying to keep everyone happy and under control, especially during a trasition of power.

the other problem is he's new on the throne, and there were a lot of generals etc with a lot of influence, so he has to play the strongman and prove that "you don't f#% with this." so in a way, he's playing to his base and trying to let everyone with any kind of power in nk know that they all need to stay in line.

whether he's actually a tyrant or just playing one on tv... that's a tough question to answer, but with all the posturing you can't assume or treat him like he's a rational actor.

[CRedskinsRule]

I really hate everything being rolled into the giant when is enough thread, so this was the most relevant NK thread.

This is from the NK news site Rodong Sinmun

Amnesty to Be Granted in DPRK



The DPRK will grant an amnesty to those who had been convicted of the crimes against the country and people on the occasion of the 70th founding anniversary of the DPRK.

The amnesty will take effect from Aug. 1.

The DPRK Cabinet and relevant organs will take practical measures to help the released people settle down to normal working life.

The Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK promulgated a decree in this regard on July 12.

The decree said it is the intrinsic demand of Korean-style socialist system and the consistent principle of state activities to protect the independent and creative life of the popular masses and make selfless, devoted efforts for them by thoroughly applying the people-first principle, the most vivid expression of the Juche-oriented view on the people and people-centered philosophy.

Rodong News Team

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-n...-idUSKBN1KD2HW

These seem like positive baby steps, I think them announcing an amnesty program in their official newspaper, and defending the move as good for the party is a pretty incredible thing. Obviously trust but verify still applies.