DPRK - who will take over?

[tango15]

This is purely a personal opinion, based on my long-term interest in DPRK - I was due to visit it this year - and the time I have spent in that part of the world. My guess is that Kim has been deposed in some sort of behind-the-scenes coup and possibly banished to the resort he built at Wonsan. Why? Who knows? Possibly an intra-family or intra-party squabble. No doubt there are those in the Party who disapproved of Kim meeting Trump and equally those who were annoyed because so little progress was made. There is a precedent for this in Communist society. Remember during the glasnost period, when Gorbachev disappeared off the scene for a while after he had gone to his dacha in Crimea and was held under house arrest? The blowing up of the liaison centre seems a little extreme, even by DPRK standards. Some believe that Kim's sister, Kim Yo-jong may now have taken over, though given the nature of society in that part of the world, it would be unusual for a woman to wield such power, unless she has somehow got the military to back her. As a slight aside, I well remember an incident in a hotel in Seoul, where a woman was clearly being beaten up in the room next door. I called reception to report this, to which the response was, "Would you like us to move you to another room, sir?" That said, the photographs of her do not convey her in a kindly light. To me, at least, she makes Rosa Klebb look like everyone's favourite maiden aunt.

Time will tell. Probably the Chinese and the Americans, along with the Russians have a fair idea of what is happening, but are keeping schtum while they each devise a strategy to deal with whatever the outcome is.

[4mastacker]

Yesterday, the BBC was reporting on the quick-time demolition of the joint office in Kaesong and showed a clip of the the visit by the South Korean president a couple of years ago when the decision was made to set up the office.

There was little sister in the background keeping a hawk-like eye on proceedings. Later on, it was her showing her larger brother where to put his thumb print at the official signing of the agreement. She's also been close by during other photo shoots - for what my unqualified opinion is worth, I think she's been running the show for quite a while.

Interestingly, there's been no sign of Fat Wun's wife who was a constant at his side a few years back.

[John Hill]

The blowing up of the liaison centre seems a little extreme, even by DPRK standards.

Not really extreme by their standards. Do you remember almost ten years ago near the end of the reign of Kim Jong Il someone there was doing a few seemingly daft things with mini subs?

I think it quite likely that this latest vandalism is intended to be a demonstration for internal audiences.

Always bear in mind that all we know for sure about North Korea is that we do not know anything and what we may think we know probably came from the same people as told us about Saddam's WMDs. I was there for a while twenty years ago, not long and not as a tourist.

[G-CPTN]

It's official now.

[tango15]

It's official now.

That sister of his makes Rosa Klebb look like everyone's maiden aunt. Maybe not as handy with the shoe blade, but lots of other possibilities exist of course.
"Do you expect me to talk, Kim?"
"No, Tango, I expect you to watch you die in a vat of boiling oil, while I enjoy my Kimchi."

[John Hill]

That sister of his makes Rosa Klebb look like everyone's maiden aunt. Maybe not as handy with the shoe blade, but lots of other possibilities exist of course.
"Do you expect me to talk, Kim?"
"No, Tango, I expect you to watch you die in a vat of boiling oil, while I enjoy my Kimchi."

Looks alone are not an adequate way of judging someone.

[Undried Plum]

Who's the least awful looker?












Answer on a Voter Card at the next election, please.

[tango15]

That sister of his makes Rosa Klebb look like everyone's maiden aunt. Maybe not as handy with the shoe blade, but lots of other possibilities exist of course.
"Do you expect me to talk, Kim?"
"No, Tango, I expect you to watch you die in a vat of boiling oil, while I enjoy my Kimchi."

Looks alone are not an adequate way of judging someone.

'twas not the overall look, but the expression on her face - that peculiarly cruel look which only Oriental ladies seem to be able to achieve. I've seen it a number of times and it usually means trouble...

[Undried Plum]

Of those three, the one who seems to me to be the most dangerously evil is Ursula von LeydenJar.

Here's the late Captain Eric Brown, as if speaking of Ursula von LeydenShock:

[John Hill]

'twas not the overall look, but the expression on her face - that peculiarly cruel look which only Oriental ladies seem to be able to achieve. I've seen it a number of times and it usually means trouble...

I am not going to boast of my experiences with 'Oriental ladies'.

[John Hill]

It's official now.

The news has been announced today by South Korea's spy agency.

That does not make it 'official', far from it.

[G-CPTN]

He's not well.

[barkingmad]

If he is in a “vegetative state” would a marrow transplant or insertion possibly save him? I think we should be told...

[AtomKraft]

Irma Grise....proof that beauty is only skin deep

[G-CPTN]

The selection process must be heating-up by now.

[G-CPTN]

Where is she?

[G-CPTN]

Meanwhile:-
What we can expect to see at North Korea's 'biggest military parade'.