Late last night news broke that Kim Jong-un was on his deathbed following an April 12th cardiovascular surgery. This explained why he was missing in action from Day of the Sun festivities on April 15th.
SEE HERE FOR HOW THE SOVIET UNION COLLAPSED
The news, which was originally reported by Daily NK, was called fake by Yonhap, sparking side debates. Daily NK is supported by $400,000 grants from the US National Endowment for Democracy. Yonhap News is funded by the South Korean government.
It is safe to say that Daily NK based their information on something leaked from one of our listening posts, and South Korea’s agenda is strictly to maintain good relations by providing shade for the regime.
However, it is neither here nor there to me. For the purpose of this post, I will just assume that Kim will die sooner than an heir achieves proper age and training to fill his shoes.
Regarding America’s contingency plans for KJU’s death, Fox News reported that “a well placed defense intelligence source” says the intelligence community expects a humanitarian crisis would occur on KJU’s sidelining or death, and that they hope China will step in to help manage the situation.
I think most Pyongyangologists would expect some political infighting and power struggles until a new leader emerges. In North Korea’s patriarchal society, I expect a brutal Korean People’s Army general would emerge victorious in that power struggle, rather than Kim’s wife, sister or daughter.
Meanwhile, the draconian regime would lockdown the entire country, punish all “wavering” persons, and many will starve to death.
Why does the US always expect China to step in, especially after the destruction of US – China relations following our economic breakup with them and the COVID-19 crisis?
We should maximize the opportunity to promote US interests by showing average North Koreans who the good guys are — America, in case some of you wondered.
We should do a full scale intervention.
For nearly a decade I have argued that the only way to liberate the regime is to bombard them with “radical guerrilla engagement.” I have also argued that my proposals have never been taken seriously because nobody truly has an interest in ending the Korean War.
As mentioned above, after KJU dies I expect a hardliner KPA general would emerge from power struggles as the new dictator; and I expect he would be the most ruthless and brutal dictator in regime history — which says a lot.
American intervention looks like economic engagement; peace forces; sending food and supplies with “Made in America” packaging, and American personnel to distribute it; American doctors; American educators; American media; American political advisors; and allowing average American citizens to travel there again — to name a few. Also, obviously, we should be doing all kinds of information warfare and PSYOPS in the background.
I know most don’t want to hear it, but turning a dictatorship into a democracy requires that we actually spread democracy throughout North Korea by directly engaging them, on the ground, and wait for the seeds of democracy to sprout.
But I digress because nobody truly has an interest in ending the Korean War.
