Posted on 07/23/2010 2:37:42 PM PDT by blam
New North Korean Leader Could Rule By September
Daily Beast
Jul. 23, 2010, 3:51 PM
As N. Korea rattles its saber at the U.S., American intel agents are racing to learn more about Kim Jong Un, who may succeed his ailing father as leader within weeks. Philip Shenon reports on the wave of executions that has Korea watchers on edge.
The CIA is scrambling to gather every scrap of information it can find on the youngest son of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il in the belief that the Swiss-educated, Hollywood-loving, Nike-wearing son could take over for his ailing father within weeks, American officials say.
They tell The Daily Beast the recent execution of three top Pyongyang officials—a former top negotiator with South Korea and two senior economic officials, all killed by firing squad—suggests brutal internal maneuvering ahead of the succession of “Beloved Comrade” Kim Jong Un, believed to be in his late 20s and just as ruthless as his father.
North Korea’s stepped-up belligerence toward the outside world, including the sinking of a South Korean warship in March and today’s threat of a military response to joint U.S.-South Korea war games this weekend, are almost certainly linked in some way to the succession, these officials say.
Given consistent reports that 69-year-old “Dear Leader” Kim Jong Il is gravely ill and often incoherent in the wake of a 2008 stroke, “this kid may have his finger on the button before we know it,” said an American diplomat who has been involved in the past in talks with North Korea about its nuclear arsenal.
He said the CIA and other Western agencies believe the succession will be formally announced—and may take effect immediately—during a rare meeting this September of the ruling Workers Party.
[snip]
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
Kim, the Unjong?
Haha, one could hope.
The way things are going it could be anyone
if fighting breaks out.
Does he play ping pong or is he a golfer like his Dad.. and ,, most importantly, does he have an iPad yet?
Rarely, if ever, do the scions of ruthless dictators succeed. I think the Chinese politburo and North Korean Generals will make quick work of him and his brother and the country might very well open up to capitalism. Too many starving peasants, too many military who are more tools for propaganda purposes and if/when he dies, it’s likely that there could be a capitalist revolution and reunification with the South.
Lets remember that the current NK military cadres are not touchy feely bureaucrats, but ruthless gangsters, as is the Chinese politburo, so they won’t take kindly to being bossed by some jet set scion who has likely not proven himself worthy of the office.
I think a military officer might take over and do as Deng Xiaoping did with North Korea and introduce limited capitalist reforms, which will eventually lead to a full development of capitalism.
ping
Maybe a young hothead who will launch on South Korea and give us a chance to clean up the peninsula finally or give the Kenyan a chance to try to turn South Kore over to North Korea and thereby eliminate one of the Left’s great enemies (the staunch allies of the US)
The Ronery Un?
Will he be just as ronery as his sweet, beloved Dad?
Then the headline will be: New North Korean Leader Rules!
Smart bomb at the funeral will solve the problem.
I never expected orderly phaseout of N. Korean regime. Which approach we adopt, it is bound to end in a mess, or even a bang. If we appease them generously, they will use it to expand their arsenal and rehabilitate their ragtag army. Then go after S. Korea. If we play hard ball, they will get upset and threaten to go down with a bang.
Final countdown is on, and we should not expect any orderly resolution.
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