Thoughtful Context on North Korea

A thoughtful and concise article in the LA Times lays out some interesting context surrounding North Korea’s recent executions, and why this start (or continuation) of a “youthful revolution” may very well lead to substantially more instability and uncertainty. A few excerpts:

“At 30, Kim Jong Un may well be the world’s youngest head of state. His brother, Kim Jong Chul, two years older, is best known as an avid Eric Clapton fan but is also said to keep an eye on the leader’s security.”

“‘He couldn’t be a boss with subordinates who are twice his age, who don’t understand him and don’t take him seriously.’

Kim’s tactics in some ways are reminiscent of China’s Cultural Revolution, launched by Mao Tse-tung in 1966, in which youthful Red Guards terrorized their teachers and other authority figures.”

“‘Jang oversaw most of North Korea’s trade, maintaining the balance between various military-run companies that sell coal, iron ore and seafood in China and in turn import most of the country’s consumer goods.

‘In running North Korea Inc., he was very effective at making money for the regime. The question now is who is going to replace him,’ said John Park of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.”