Comments on: The Pyongyang regime is about to fall. Really. I mean it this time. http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/09/13/the-pyongyang-regime-is-about-to-fall-really-i-mean-it-this-time/ Korea... in Blog Format Wed, 9 Jul 2008 13:39:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: The Korea Liberator » Must-Read! ‘The Natural Death of N. Korean Stalinism’ http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/09/13/the-pyongyang-regime-is-about-to-fall-really-i-mean-it-this-time/#comment-49290 The Korea Liberator » Must-Read! ‘The Natural Death of N. Korean Stalinism’ Thu, 14 Sep 2006 11:00:42 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/09/13/the-pyongyang-regime-is-about-to-fall-really-i-mean-it-this-time/#comment-49290 [...] With “The Natural Death of North Korean Stalinism,” Andrei Lankov, possibly the Western world’s single authentic North Korea expert, has just provided us with an impressive collection of empirical evidence to support his argument that the North Korean regime’s control apparatus is losing its grip (a big hat tip to Andy Jackson). Those whose interest in North Korea is inversely proportional to the availability of information about it will pore through this article, fascinated at the amount and quality of information. The picture he paints is of systemic decay, of a gargantuan apparatus of control so saturated with “subversive” information that it simply lacks the time and prison space to suppress all of it. With the exception of one small quibble I’ll get to later — the word “Natural” — Lankov’s conclusions are well supported by these facts. I read Bradley Martin’s book the way most men claim to read Playboy — for the interviews — but Lankov grasps the bigger picture. [...] [...] With “The Natural Death of North Korean Stalinism,” Andrei Lankov, possibly the Western world’s single authentic North Korea expert, has just provided us with an impressive collection of empirical evidence to support his argument that the North Korean regime’s control apparatus is losing its grip (a big hat tip to Andy Jackson). Those whose interest in North Korea is inversely proportional to the availability of information about it will pore through this article, fascinated at the amount and quality of information. The picture he paints is of systemic decay, of a gargantuan apparatus of control so saturated with “subversive” information that it simply lacks the time and prison space to suppress all of it. With the exception of one small quibble I’ll get to later — the word “Natural” — Lankov’s conclusions are well supported by these facts. I read Bradley Martin’s book the way most men claim to read Playboy — for the interviews — but Lankov grasps the bigger picture. [...]

]]> By: judge judy http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/09/13/the-pyongyang-regime-is-about-to-fall-really-i-mean-it-this-time/#comment-49222 judge judy Wed, 13 Sep 2006 13:58:06 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/09/13/the-pyongyang-regime-is-about-to-fall-really-i-mean-it-this-time/#comment-49222 kaplan is a simplistic dink. WTF is the "green zone?" too much time on the bases and not enough with korean policymakers. kaplan is a simplistic dink. WTF is the “green zone?” too much time on the bases and not enough with korean policymakers.

]]> By: lirelou http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/09/13/the-pyongyang-regime-is-about-to-fall-really-i-mean-it-this-time/#comment-49208 lirelou Wed, 13 Sep 2006 07:11:46 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/09/13/the-pyongyang-regime-is-about-to-fall-really-i-mean-it-this-time/#comment-49208 As I read the Lankov paper, and the good Dr. is far more knowledgeable on NK than Kaplan, the Stalinist model for North Korea is dead, AND there is an increased possibility that the regime (sorry, dynasty) will collapse. But, again my take, collapse in neither inevitable, nor necessarily around the corner. Or, in other words, the Fat Boy could be enjoying his extra-premium cognac up in his villa ten years from now, enjoying the security afforded by his single party state and loyal armed forces, counting the money his latest ventures have earned him. Korean Stalinism is dead, but the NorK state is not dead yet. Perhaps I'm just a pessimist and it affects my reading. As I read the Lankov paper, and the good Dr. is far more knowledgeable on NK than Kaplan, the Stalinist model for North Korea is dead, AND there is an increased possibility that the regime (sorry, dynasty) will collapse. But, again my take, collapse in neither inevitable, nor necessarily around the corner. Or, in other words, the Fat Boy could be enjoying his extra-premium cognac up in his villa ten years from now, enjoying the security afforded by his single party state and loyal armed forces, counting the money his latest ventures have earned him. Korean Stalinism is dead, but the NorK state is not dead yet. Perhaps I’m just a pessimist and it affects my reading.

]]> By: michael http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/09/13/the-pyongyang-regime-is-about-to-fall-really-i-mean-it-this-time/#comment-49207 michael Wed, 13 Sep 2006 06:48:46 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/09/13/the-pyongyang-regime-is-about-to-fall-really-i-mean-it-this-time/#comment-49207 Works for me :) Anyway, Baduk's right about the money and oil, only it's not a big secret, only the extent of it, which is probably far greater than what outsiders estimate. Works for me :) Anyway, Baduk’s right about the money and oil, only it’s not a big secret, only the extent of it, which is probably far greater than what outsiders estimate.

]]> By: Andy Jackson http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/09/13/the-pyongyang-regime-is-about-to-fall-really-i-mean-it-this-time/#comment-49205 Andy Jackson Wed, 13 Sep 2006 06:34:01 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/09/13/the-pyongyang-regime-is-about-to-fall-really-i-mean-it-this-time/#comment-49205 Doh! I knew I read it somewhere before. At this point, all these NK pieces tend to run together in my brain. Well, actually, this is a post about the article getting play on a big American blog and those other links. Yeah, that's the ticket. Doh!

I knew I read it somewhere before. At this point, all these NK pieces tend to run together in my brain.

Well, actually, this is a post about the article getting play on a big American blog and those other links. Yeah, that’s the ticket.

]]> By: baduk http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/09/13/the-pyongyang-regime-is-about-to-fall-really-i-mean-it-this-time/#comment-49200 baduk Wed, 13 Sep 2006 05:24:46 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/09/13/the-pyongyang-regime-is-about-to-fall-really-i-mean-it-this-time/#comment-49200 Robert Kaplan wrote a simplistic view of NK. KJI is doing it all by himself? I don't think so! Is he disobeying chinese leaders? I don't think so. If he shot missiles in direct opposition to the Chinese, he must be really mad! He is not mad. He is just a dog. A loyal dog to the Chinese. He talked and got permission right before shooting those missiles. He is just following Hu's orders verbatim. NK regime is stronger than ever, as China secretly supplies money and oil. It is rather SK which will implode soon, as the US Forces rapidly pull out of Korea. Robert Kaplan wrote a simplistic view of NK. KJI is doing it all by himself? I don’t think so! Is he disobeying chinese leaders? I don’t think so.

If he shot missiles in direct opposition to the Chinese, he must be really mad! He is not mad. He is just a dog. A loyal dog to the Chinese.

He talked and got permission right before shooting those missiles. He is just following Hu’s orders verbatim. NK regime is stronger than ever, as China secretly supplies money and oil.

It is rather SK which will implode soon, as the US Forces rapidly pull out of Korea.

]]> By: michael http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/09/13/the-pyongyang-regime-is-about-to-fall-really-i-mean-it-this-time/#comment-49196 michael Wed, 13 Sep 2006 04:42:51 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/09/13/the-pyongyang-regime-is-about-to-fall-really-i-mean-it-this-time/#comment-49196 In fact, just recently a guy who calls himself "Marmot" wrote about this: http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/09/07/kaplan-on-when-n-korea-collapses/ :) In fact, just recently a guy who calls himself “Marmot” wrote about this:
http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/.....collapses/

:)

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