North Korea to follow Germany's model

[Husar]

Ok, not really, and I'll spare you the TOLD YOU SO (oops, too late) but it appears that Kim Jong Un is not as bad as many assumed and I was right in thinking that he may actually want to open up the country slowly.

Link here.

Pyongyang may be preparing to open up its economy. A report in a prominent newspaper claims the regime has enlisted the aid of German economic and legal experts to lay the groundwork for foreign investment in North Korean companies. The move could be made as soon as this year.

So this also indicating that my assumption about him killing and axing military officials because they opposed his ideas was not all that wrong after all. After all there's no better way to open up a military dictatorships than by dropping mortar rounds onto generals, right?
Apart from me being correct I think this is good news and I hope he succeeds if that's really his plan and doesn't turn out to be a hoax of some kind (it's not 1st of April after all).

[Hooahguy]

At some point NK will be open to tourism and we will all be able to flock to see the unicorn lair that the Great Leader found.

[Husar]

I will be delighted to go there and sacrifice some candy for the Great Leader.
Just a matter of Time until he becomes their person of the year.

[Idaho]

At some point NK will be open to tourism and we will all be able to flock to see the unicorn lair that the Great Leader found.

I want to go to the golf course where he got a hole in one on every hole.

[Veho Nex]

The great leader is my hero. I wish i could be 1/100th the man he is.

[Vladimir]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013...-nkorea-plans/

Now Google. Maybe they're being influenced by China's model.

[Strike For The South]

I distrust ze Germans on principle

Also, I had forgotten how far left Husar was

Kind of cute IMO

[Fragony]

What use it for a North-Korean to follow a German model, they are too small to do anything with her. Or am I misunderstanding topic.

[Husar]

More like economic and political model but I exaggerated the fact that they asked German scientists for advice a little.

What I cannot understand is the rightist logic that little improvments are no improvements at all. After all they wouldn't be little improvements if they were no improvements at all, right? Yes/No?

[Fragony]

Well yes. What makes you think the right is against it

[Hax]

So..will we split North Korea into two Koreas?

North North Korea and South North Korea? With special subdivisionary areas called South North North Korea and North South North Korea?

[HoreTore]

More like economic and political model but I exaggerated the fact that they asked German scientists for advice a little.

What I cannot understand is the rightist logic that little improvments are no improvements at all. After all they wouldn't be little improvements if they were no improvements at all, right? Yes/No?

While this isn't perestojka yet, there were no more signs in the USSR in 1985 of the radical changes that would occur just a couple of years later.

Things can change fast with new leadership. I see no logical reason why that can't happen in North Korea, but I won't be holding my breath.

[Fragony]

While this isn't perestojka yet, there were no more signs in the USSR in 1985 of the radical changes that would occur just a couple of years later.

Things can change fast with new leadership. I see no logical reason why that can't happen in North Korea, but I won't be holding my breath.

Indeed, let's wait and see what comes out of it. Even talk about opening up is a pretty significant departure.

[Kralizec]

When the USSR began with Glasnost and Perestroijka the entire cardhouse came crashing down. The Chinese thought that this was because of the Glasnost-part, i.e. loosening the grip on society made the whole thing spiral out of control. China would then modernize its economy to a degree while still remaining a thoroughly oppressive state.

I expect that North Korea has about the same idea. Allthough given the situation there, ending their massive famine problems would be a huge improvement even if civil liberties remain non-existent.

[Beskar]

I admit, I would prefer a solution where North Korea radically changes, even if it becomes more like a little 'China' or adopting the German model. Wealth fosters power, so opening up the economy, it will allow more people to become more wealthy and demand more rights. These will hopefully open up society politically and socially (like in China).

[Fragony]

I expect that North Korea has about the same idea. Allthough given the situation there, ending their massive famine problems would be a huge improvement even if civil liberties remain non-existent.

Expectting anything other than civil liberties remaining non-existant. Whole generations will have die of old age first. But it's a flirt we should take very serious.

[HoreTore]

When the USSR began with Glasnost and Perestroijka the entire cardhouse came crashing down. The Chinese thought that this was because of the Glasnost-part, i.e. loosening the grip on society made the whole thing spiral out of control. China would then modernize its economy to a degree while still remaining a thoroughly oppressive state.

I expect that North Korea has about the same idea. Allthough given the situation there, ending their massive famine problems would be a huge improvement even if civil liberties remain non-existent.

You've got your dates screwed up.

Zhao Ziyang was the one who introduced economic reform, and he came to power 5 years before Gorby, in 1980. The crackdown happened under Li Peng, who was elected(lol) in 1987. The chinese leadership didn't pay much attention to the USSR during that time, as the russian leadership were all dirty traitors to communism. China's economic reforms were mostly a response to the rule of the Gang of Four, and the ideas the new leadership later implemented was formed during the second half of the cultural revolution. They wanted economic progress, but losing power? No way, José!

But in some ways, the NK position is comparable to the chinese situation in the late 70's. China had endured a failed cultural revolution, NK has endured countless famines and natural disasters. The persons responsible for the troubles are both replaced, although in different ways. The gang of four were shot, while NK has done its change hereditary. The new leadership in China could, and did, launch a massive smear campaign which paved the way for acceptance of a new direction. The question of course is how the new Kim can change direction, as it seems unlikely that he can denounce the old Kim...

[Husar]

[...], even if it becomes more like a little 'China' or adopting the German model.

Yes, neither of these two very similar systems would be desirable but still a little bit better than what they have now, right?

The question of course is how the new Kim can change direction, as it seems unlikely that he can denounce the old Kim...

He can once enough of the old military guys have had mortar rounds dropped onto their heads...

[Beskar]

Yes, neither of these two very similar systems would be desirable but still a little bit better than what they have now, right?

That was what I was saying. Except, I have no issues with the German system.

[Sarmatian]

He can once enough of the old military guys have had mortar rounds dropped onto their heads...

Or he could use Tito's favourite... Helium in tires, works every time.

[Husar]

He could, but he seems to have decided on mortar rounds.

The link also mentions that other officials have disappeared since Kim Jong Un took power.
And now that all these people are gone, he talks about a turnaround. Go figure...
I expect by the time I'm 40, North Korea will be lecturing the USA about human rights abuses.

[HoreTore]

He could, but he seems to have decided on mortar rounds.

The link also mentions that other officials have disappeared since Kim Jong Un took power.
And now that all these people are gone, he talks about a turnaround. Go figure...
I expect by the time I'm 40, North Korea will be lecturing the USA about human rights abuses.

The "old guard" is usually a power, one he seems to do away with now. But I believe you're underestimating the power created by the old Kim's personality cult among the general population.

[Husar]

The "old guard" is usually a power, one he seems to do away with now. But I believe you're underestimating the power created by the old Kim's personality cult among the general population.

That's why he says he kills them for disrespecting the old Kim, it's all in the article except my accurate conclusion why he really kills them!

[Shaka_Khan]

I've been thinking the same as you for a long time. A lot of people thought I was insane for saying anything positive about a North Korean dictator.
Several years ago, Kim Jong Il's personal Japanese chef wrote a book about the Kim family. (He wrote the book when he was away from North Korea). According to the chef, Kim Jong Un asked him about the conditions of the general North Korean population. This was during Kim's vacation from his studies at Switzerland. The chef got the feeling that Kim was deeply concerned about his own country after seeing how wealthy the Swiss were and hearing negative news about his own country.

[Greyblades]

Everyone's the hero of thier own story, unless he's a complete psychopath kim jong un is going to have some redeeming qualities, whether or not they motivate him into "doing good" has yet to be seen.

[Husar]

They just released the most romantic video I've seen in a veeery long time, you have to watch all of it!

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=203_1360053143

The captioned photo below is also amusing.

[Fragony]

Gah no subtitles

[Shaka_Khan]

I think Kim Jong Un is desperate. I heard that even the North Korean army is suffering, especially during the cold winter. I think Kim is creating tension to distract the North Koreans. Otherwise, it's odd that North Korea is angering the other countries when the other countries weren't paying attention. Even China, North Korea's closest friend, is upset at North Korea's plan to test a nuke.

[Shaka_Khan]

It seems that North Korea has done it today.

[lars573]

Done what? Not been oppressively evil for 5 minutes?