kim jong il
North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il is an eccentric leader indeed; kidnapping and collecting Japanese women to fulfill sexual fantasies (rumor?), writing operas, alcohol addiction (expensive cognacs) and bombings are some of his preferred hobbies. While there is a cult of personality around his image in N. Korea, he’s a strong target for satire outside his own world.
Probably ashamed of his humble origins (guerrilla camp somewhere in Soviet Union – 1941) the “dear leader” made sure that in official biographies stated something else (Baekdu Mountain – under a double rainbow and a magical star – in Japanese Korea – 1942).
kim jong il
Dictator Kim Il Sung (his father and founder of North Korea), headed the Korean Worker’s Party (KWP) and the country since independence in 1948.
After World War II and the Japanese occupation in the peninsula, Korea was divided into a communist north and a south under American influence. By 1950 a war was started between the two Koreas, with China supporting the north and U.S.A. the south. 2 millions died until it ended 3 years later. The isolation from North Korea starts around this time, so they start searching for the self-sufficiency of their country. Their economy grew until the 70’s but they could simply not compete without private and/or international investments.
Kim began his political career in 1971 through the same party and around 1980 his father named him his successor.
The country he runs since 1994 (since his father died…) is considered by many the most oppressed in the whole world, certainly being the most centralized. Devastated by hunger (10 million currently starve to death) and isolation not only from the outside world, but also because there are many families who have been separated for more than 50 years and in 2000, only 100 north Koreans were allowed to see their relatives from the south side.
north korean army
His father started the whole thing up, but Kim is a far worse man than his father ever was. As a cruel dictator, he has good capabilities: runs an autocratic system with slave camps, killing thousands of people (or ordering it…) and after all that, makes people believe he’s the right man for the job.
One of his biggest self-defence weapons is the fact he knows North Korea has no oil whatsoever and he plays very well accordingly. And who knows what secret arrangements he might have with other world leaders?
Nevertheless, his standing army is the fourth largest in the world and he continues with nuclear testing, which he believes is imperative, also a good manoeuvre to keep the military happy.
atomic touch - cox&forkum 2004
Recent Comments