I expect high level DPRK defections over the next six months. And, it could be easily encouraged. (Of course, then we could get the whole story about the funeral and which parts were phony/staged). Every man has his price. Lots of seasoned, aged DPRK leaders I think are just not ready to follow a 27 year old kid who only knows basketball and violent PC games and who only has the position because he merely orginated as a spermatazoa from his father, the Dear Leader—nothing on merit at all.
Thank you for an American in Asia commentary.
We don’t hear such things here much, except for the propaganda.
Looks like your rendition of Kim was pretty close as we see the peoples comments coming out of N.Korea.
Some in the crowd could be heard shouting: .........”How could you leave us? ......What are we supposed to do without you?”
The state media used the snowy weather to bolster myths about Kim Jong-il’s birth in a log cabin on the Korean peninsula’s highest peak, Mount Paektu, although Soviet records show he was born in Russia.
......”The feathery snowfall reminds the Korean people of the snowy day when the leader was born in the secret camp of Mount Paektu and of the great revolutionary career that he followed through snowdrifts,”..... the Korea Central News Agency said.
....”It seems the sky knows well of how much he got snowed on during his uninterrupted field guidance tour for the happiness of the people.”....
Citing the snowy weather, one soldier told North Korean state TV:..... “A national tragedy has occurred … how could the sky not cry?.... The people are all crying tears of blood.”
Seo Ju-rim, a weeping female soldier, said:.... “Seeing this white snow fall has made me think of the general’s efforts, and this brings tears to my eyes.”
On Wednesday, state media declared that the country was now in the.... “warm care”..... of Kim Jong-un.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/28/kim-jong-il-funeral-thousands-mourn
Well it's no small thing to attempt escape from N.Korea...I suspect the leadership are all watching each other. But if Kim's Chef could escape it would seem quite possible other leadership could cut and run as well.