Quote:
Originally Posted by Daradon
Probably not, I'm sure your right about that.
All I'm saying (or thinking out loud) is that if we do learn of a lot of assassinations attempts on leaders after the fact, it's quite possible there have been attempts on this family somewhere along the line, and we just haven't heard of them. Because they are still in power.
Partly because in this situation the propaganda machine is so tight, and probably because that assassinations in general aren't heard about a lot, aren't talked about a lot, unless they do succeed.
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From everything I've read and watched (and its lots, North Korea is pretty fascinating to me right now) There have been relatively few assasination attempts if any on any of the last three leaders of North Korea.
the system doesn't make it easy.
Let me put it this way.
You have the police (intelligence) and Military fighting for the favor of the Kims, both because of a special room in their ministry building that takes any hard currency earned by North Korea in trade and spends it on luxury items that Kim hands out as gifts. Those go along with luxury apartments for families of senior officials and the occasional friendly inquiry by Kim about how their families like their apartments.
At the same time the majority of North Korea's budget goes towards the military and the intelligence services, the senior members get the best food and clothing and control all of the industries in North Korea.
In order to maintain that favor the Intelligence and Military have a fierce rivalry, they heavily investigate and report on each other, also as part of maintaining the favor of the Kim they investigate and inform of senior government members and members of Kim's family members.
At the same time the Propaganda department which Kim Jung-Il and later his sons ran are feeding the people the believable story that yes they might be hungry, but beyond the borders of the People's republic it is far worse, imagine a post apocalyptic world of starvation and constant war.
On top of that the starvation level food levels is partially intentional as all of the food is distributed by the State with the upper classes getting most of the meat and most of the rices, vegetables and grains. This is intentional because the people spend most of their waking hours trying to get enough to eat either through growing crops, or by going into the forests and hunting rodents and tree barks that they can eat. They are tired, probably intellectually stunted and weak and have no time to think of a revolution, and besides why would you rebel against the great or dear leader, in fact its easier to turn someone in who is having rebellious thoughts because your reward is either currency or a luxury good that you can trade at the local black market for food.
The system is build around turning in your fellow citizens for reward.
There is no fire of rebellion burning in North Korea, the system is too perfect.
In fact, I am willing to bet that Kim's uncles only crime was trying to advise his young nephew and he was executed and publicly executed to encourage all others to fall in line. I can't see an Uncle who has probably grown incredibly wealthy and is well fed who's only fear is losing that wealth or power risking everything to rebel.
It was a symbolic execution.