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At Large
Behold! The Dear General
The Dear Leader is dead. Long live The Dear General, his son and appointed heir.
Soon after the death of Kim Jong-il was announced, U.S. television audiences were treated to many clips of North Koreans keening and wailing over the passing of The Dear Leader. Since he had died (on a train) two days before the announcement, there was plenty of time to stage-manage the grief.
Kim was a master of keeping leaks about the poverty and repression of his people to a minimum. Ever since his father, Kim Il-sung, founder of the Kim dynasty, had turned the country into the Hermit Kingdom, news for the outside world was carefully rationed. He was concentrating power in the military and security forces and keeping most of the population under very tight control, while bestowing privileges on an elite few who danced and sang in praise of him.
Beginning in summer 2010, Kim Jong-il, then still recovering from what is believed to have been a 2008 stroke, anointed his third son Kim Jong-un as potential successor. This young man, now 28, supplanted his eldest brother, Kim Jong-nam, who had fallen from favor and decamped to Macau to lead the good life. The second son, Kim Jong-chol, apparently has a position in the Workers’ Party of Korea’s Organization and Guidance Departments.
Despite no military schooling or background, Kim Jong-un in August last year was made a four-star general by his father and promptly dubbed, “The Dear General.” Some of his schooling was in Switzerland, prompting some observers to guess that his exposure to Western standards might lead him to lean toward reform. This is wishful thinking, for the country is tightly managed by the army and state security apparatus and The Dear General can be expected to closely follow its wishes.
He will have as his mentor and guide his uncle by marriage, Chong Song-taek who is married to Kim Jong-il’s only sister. In 2009, Chong was elected to the powerful National Defense Commission. On that commission, he is the director of the bland-sounding Administration Department. His duties are anything but bland. In fact, the job title means he oversees the Ministry of Public Security and the State Security Department, both pivotal power levers.
Just prior to Kim Jong-il’s death, at age 69, is was expected that the frequently fruitless Six Party Talks would soon be resumed, aimed at reducing a North Korean nuclear threat. This is not likely to happen any time soon. Nor is it likely, as some observers speculate, that young Kim Jong-un will carry out some daring and aggressive move against South Korea or Japan as a means of proving his mettle to his military regents. He has had nearly 17 months to build relationships with them and, with the guidance — and protection — of Mr. Chong, he is likely to spend his early months in office working behind the scenes to further consolidate support.
More than anything else, the military elite members want to protect the status quo. They may set diplomats to talking with representatives of the other five members of the Six Party group, but this is all it will be, talk. As for military action, it can come later, once the elite is comfortably settled in with The Dear General. Provocative action is a staple of North Korea’s strategy, for it has almost always brought concessions from the other parties, either in the form of food for starving peasants or commodities to run the economy. It will come in due course.
About the Author
Peter Hannaford was closely associated for a number of years with the late President Reagan, beginning in the California Governor’s office. His latest book is Presidential Retreats.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (26) | Leave a comment
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Louis Jenkins| 12.20.11 @ 8:54AM
As the head lines read, "The first person to stop crying will have their family executed."
VonMisesJr| 12.20.11 @ 9:01AM
Perfect solution: North Korea needs a transformational Marxist leader and we have one we don't want or need. Besides, ours will be out of work in just over a year.
We can sweeten the deal with Pelosi and a slate of Czars.
chuck| 12.20.11 @ 10:28AM
Throw in Jimmy Carter, and they will probably agree.
Teaghan| 12.20.11 @ 11:03AM
Slick Willy too?
VonMisesJr| 12.20.11 @ 11:11AM
First we must check to see if they have ample soap and washboards to clean the stains off the palace servant girls blue uniforms.
Cosmo| 12.20.11 @ 11:16PM
The Korean peninsula needs to be de-militarized.
Then South Korea and China need to be allowed to develop North Korea and feed their people.
The Nork govt. and military are monsters--worse than Hilter and Stalin put together.
Stefan Stackhouse| 12.20.11 @ 9:40AM
NK shows us that no matter what your worst nightmares might be, it is possible for things to be even worse than that. There seems to be no depth that is too deep for human evil to plumb.
Trevor Rumpleteazer| 12.20.11 @ 10:09AM
Young one's not long for this mortal coil. Crusty old Stalinist hulks won't go for a prat in a baby bonnet running the show.
C Smith| 12.20.11 @ 10:11AM
Kim Jong-il "caused terror in the land of the living." Where is he now?
Under our feet this very moment is a subterranean world. The Hebrew Scriptures refer to it as the pit, the abyss, the nether parts of the earth, Abaddon.... No, it is not Hell. Hell is not yet. The Judgment must come first. The name of this present shadow land is Sheol.
"Asshur is there and all her company... all of them slain, fallen by the sword... which caused terror in the land of the living" (Ezekiel 32:22-23).
"There is Elam and all her multitude... fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living" (Ezekiel 32:24).
There is Meshech, Tubal, and all her multitude... they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen... which are gone down to Sheol with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living" (Ezekiel 32:26-27).
There is Edom, her kings, and all her princes, which with their might are laid by them that were slain by the sword: they shall lie with the uncircumcised, and with them that go down to the pit" (Ezekiel 32:29).
"There be the princes of the north... with their terror they are ashamed of their might; and they lie uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword...." (Ezekiel 32:30).
"Sheol from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? Thy pomp is brought down to Sheol, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee" (Isaiah 14:9-11).
Franco| 12.20.11 @ 12:32PM
What the hell are you talkng about?
The Bruce| 12.21.11 @ 1:42AM
Tell you what... while you're interpreting God's Word through the Book of Margie, I offer a somewhat secularist position...
Couldn't we just nuke the northern peninsula and just claim it was an "accident?"
I'm sure I'd feel bad about it at first, but I'm also sure I'd feel as right as rain by the time I finished my Corn Flakes.
Wouldn't it be a good thing to put millions of people out of their misery and send them straight to God?
Dick Nome| 12.20.11 @ 10:16AM
Make sure Madeline Halfbright is in the deal. She and the little pot-bellied Stalinist thug were drinking buddies and she probably thought he was kinda cute.
Bob Grant| 12.20.11 @ 12:50PM
Come on.
The Dear Leader threw a little flirtatious compliment her way and she took it hook.line.sinker. She hadn't experience one of those since 1938.
And shudder to think she was the chief negotiator for our country around the World.
Dick Nome| 12.20.11 @ 3:23PM
There was a British political commentator (I forget wh0) who once observed, " When Madeline Albright is walking away from you, she appears to be wrestling with herself.". It is still one of the funniest lines I've heard.
Buck Ofama| 12.20.11 @ 8:30PM
Jus lahk 2 pigs fahtin in uh tote sak!
Trevor Rumpleteazer| 12.20.11 @ 3:34PM
Among her other ponderous feats, Madeleine Albright was able to crack a walnut between her thighs.
Bob Grant| 12.20.11 @ 4:59PM
That's questionable considering Dick Nome's comment about above.
I don't see the walnut cracked inasmuch as being smothered.
Timothy L. Pennell| 12.20.11 @ 10:21AM
To quote the estimable Stuart Gilligan Griffin, one more time: I smell DEATH on him.
I'm afraid that the Coming of Obama, with his undeniable Leading Part in these days, before the END OF DAYS, we have another key Player on our Hands.
With the Rise of Hamas' DELIVERER, and the Islamist's Takeover of Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, and Yemen? The Noose grows ever tighter, around Israel. Iran is THISCLOSE to the Bomb. The Entire Arab World will come together to form the Great Army, foretold in Revelation. Pakistan is turning. Saudi Arabia will be the next to fall, after Jordan. America's Cities will be put to the Torch, by the Armies of the BEAST. I believe that this North Korean SPAWN of Pure Evil, is the final piece of the Puzzle. He will add his Chits to the Pot, as Evil Comes together for ONE LAST WAR against Mankind.
I'll even bet $10,000.
The Bruce| 12.21.11 @ 1:48AM
Tim... as long as the Coming of Obama doesn't involve a DNA, blue-stained dress, I'm sure the Earth will actually live on.
The End isn't coming, no matter how much your knees hurt you, brother.
Bob Grant| 12.20.11 @ 12:44PM
Greeeeaaaat!!
We went from a platform-wearing oddball with a bizarre Hollywood fetish to his fat faced underachieving neophyte kid with an equally bizarre NBA obsession.
And somehow this is all gonna work itself out?
cicero| 12.20.11 @ 4:08PM
South Korea can defend itself. China will not put up with any nonsense that will adversely affect its economy. The U.S. would be wise to just stay out of this next coming fiasco. Of course, the North Koreans will be starving, and their leaders will try to get the West's attention (and aid) by shooting at somebody. Left alone, they will sadly sink into starvatipon and death.
They will try to sell their nuclear technology to whomever they can for currency to buy food for their armed forces. It is the buyers that civilization has to deal with. Their may be leverage there. There is none with North Korea, as they will say anything to get food. No sense at all trying to negotiate with a starving bear.
Buck Ofama| 12.20.11 @ 8:27PM
All these Kims, Dims, ils, uns, Songs, Chings and Chongs. So what was the big damned "racist" problem with the Chick Filet worker writing Ching and Chong on the receipts? I say, give that worker a medal!
POST American| 12.20.11 @ 11:22PM
----------------------FINAL WORD-----------------------
And speaking of the Globalist-RED China
sellout, TREASON and EUGENICS OP---
"As far as the 21st century goes, one day, one day soon,
the KOREAN WAR, and NOT the long gone world wars,
will be seen for what it is
---the pivotal and definitive conflict of the 20th
century."
And take note, Hollywood and media have BALKED
all treatment, and, insofar as they can
get away with it, all mention of the massively
relevant KOREAN WAR.
Buck Ofama| 12.21.11 @ 1:20AM
How long have you been out of the institution?
POST American| 12.21.11 @ 9:55PM
RE: AS we learn FEMA camps are now on
active stand by, and after last week's NDAA legislation
"And the ONLY other nation in history
to carry a law, on the books, authorizing
the 'disappearance' of its own citizens
---is NORTH KOREA."
AS we said ----'one day soon'.