Kim Jong-il Looks at Kim Jong-un

Somebody at Japan’s NTV watched the North Korean state television broadcasts of Kim Jong-un’s first appearance at a National Assembly meeting and counted how many times Kim Jong-il looked in the direction of his son’s seat. The Dear Leader glanced at his son 27 times:

They have also noticed that the announcer for the DPRK state television news makes a point of looking straight at the camera when mentioning Kim Jong-un’s name. When reading the names of other party members, she looks down at her paper.

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18 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - October 7, 2010 at 10:36 am

Categories: Japanese TV Tags:

J.

It’s quite funny how N. Korea is and let themselves be ruled by a dynasty of pigs and how the chinese are backing it up.

George

If by “funny,” you mean “tragic and horrible for the millions who live in North Korea.”

http://tepido.org/ LB

They could revolt, you know. Sure, Kim’s got the army (not sure he could really count on it to cover his back, though, they seem to have their own ideas about how to do things), but due to conscription a fairly large chunk of the masses would be ex-army, and they have numerical superiority, knowledge of tactics and know how to use a gun as soon as they get one. If the masses rebelled it would probably be over really quickly – look at what happened in Romania years ago.

But if they won’t even try – well, that’s their problem then. It ceases to be ‘tragic’ at that point.

George

That’s a pretty unsympathetic view of things from someone who by luck of the draw wasn’t born into an oppressive tyranny.
http://tepido.org/ LB

It is only an oppressive tyranny because the North Korean masses allow it to be so. They choose to stay, and they choose to not oppose the system. I have a certain measure of sympathy for the former – it is their home, after all. But with regards to the latter if they are looking for sympathy then they need to check between “sycophant” and “syphillis” in the dictionary.
Tony D

“They choose to stay”

It’s not like they can just walk across the border. China returns anyone caught crossing the border, and the glorious DPRK doesn’t take too kindly to people who try to run away from its loving hugs and kisses.
George

LB, you act as if they can simply “choose” for it to not be an oppressive tyranny. No, they have to choose between risking their lives for a possible revolution that might not succeed, or sticking to the status quo and at least surviving.

They have to choose the likely outcome of being put to death for even discussing the possibility of a revolution.

You grew up never having to make that choice. I’m sorry for coming close to a personal insult, but what you’re saying sounds extremely callous and naive.
Level3

LB, I see what you’re trying to say, but perhaps the blame can be put on the colonels and generals who could actually command troops into a revolt, but instead choose to stay fat and happy while their countrymen starve. No military honor or duty in that.

But blaming the little guys? The former conscripts?

None of us really knows how oppressive it is in NK-land. But we can safely assume it is even worse than a Stalinist, “Darkness at Noon” type hell. If you try to start something, you risk not only your own life, but that of your family, and likely your whole village. Every neighbor is a spy, willing to report you for the slightest transgression or grumble or mere lack of enthusiasm, because if they don’t report you, they become co-conspirators and share your fate when the next guy reports you to the Happiness Committee.
Meanwhile, you are literally starving, and need to invest your time scavenging/growing food just to make it to next week.

How is it possible for the masses to revolt under such circumstances? And with the propaganda, would they even want to? How can they know what is really going on?

It’s the captains, majors and colonels who could possibly start something, if they wanted to. But again, they still have the huge risk and colleagues who’d love to earn promotions by turning in “traitors”.
In the end, it’s China who could end this all if they wanted to. And they don’t want to.
http://tepido.org/ LB

@George & Level3 – yes, the ordinary people are faced with one hell of a choice: possibly (perhaps even probably) die trying to overthrow the system, or possibly survive by keeping their heads down. And yes, Level3, you make an excellent point – there are a lot of folks within the armed forces of the DPRK who prefer to keep their rice rations rather than side with the common people who are starving.

The choice comes down to this: try to pull yourself out of hell at the very distinct risk of being killed, or keep your mouth shut and hope someone else does it, or something happens that somehow changes the system. Fighting for something, or being fatalistic and thinking “But what can I do…”

The people of North Korea have made their choice. So be it – but choices have consequences. Now they have to live with the consequences of the choice they made. I do not envy them their options either way, but neither do I have sympathy for them. If they rose up and were ultimately crushed, now, that would be different – at least they tried. But if they won’t even try, well, remind me again why I am supposed to care about their lot if they themselves don’t?
Lord Metroid

The scottish people did try to gain their freedom and look where they ended up.
Piglet

LB, your comments reflect a lack of human compassion and understanding. When you have to fight for basic survival for you and your family, you’re not in the best position to revolt. However, I agree with you that change will have to come from the people.

Many authoritarian or dictatorial regimes fell when the soldiers refused to obey the orders anymore. The Berlin Wall fell when east-german border guards took side with their fellow citizens.

In the case of NK, there will be years of propaganda and isolation to overcome, but the day soldiers refuse to execute or harass their fellow countrymen, there will be a good chance the current regime is over.
http://tepido.org/ LB

“When you have to fight for basic survival for you and your family, you’re not in the best position to revolt.”

True, very true, and yet… It has happened. Quite a few times throughout history. Some people when pushed up against the wall with nothing left to lose go for broke and try to improve their lives. Some people prefer to keep their heads down and hope things blow over or that The Great Spaghetti Monster or some other outside force takes pity on them and strikes down the source of their troubles with a lightning bolt or similar.

If what I say offends people then so be it, but I do not have sympathy or compassion for people that decide to do nothing to help themselves when the Man comes around and says “BOHICA!”

Lord Metroid

Actually Kim does not have the army, there is a deadlock in North Korea between The civil side of the regime and the military.

If Kim want to change the country, reduce the army and implement more freedom. The army would most probably stage a coup in order to retain their power and aristocratic positions.

sublight

I’m disappointed they didn’t use the little comic “boo-ep” sound effect whenever he looked over, like they do on so many of the variety shows.

http://whatjapanthinks.com Ken Y-N

Haha! Someone needs to intercut it with London Boots’ Do-Sukebe Hoi-Hoi…

Rob A

That second picture above totally made me think of that old Guess Who? board game.

http://apeineforyourthoughts.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/guess-who.jpg
Chinko

What a fat f*ck!
Vonskippy

That is one ugly ass family. Ironic in a country that had millions starve to death their so called leaders are fat.

Kim Jong-il Looks at Kim Jong-un

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