1)He and his father have purged everyone who had or could have popular support that rivals theirs (the other early North Korean leaders and South Korean communist leaders were purged after the war). Kim Jong-il has been known to execute a few high ranking member of government who has slighted him and has sent others to gulags.

2)Kim Jong il has brought the cults of personality based around his father, and him, to new heights starting in the 70’s. 40% of the North Korean budget is spent on maintaining this charade, which is probably the strongest contributing factor to the collapse of the North Korean economy.

3) North Koreans are made to believe that everything they ever receive, from the food on their plates to the roofs over their heads, were gifts from Kim Jong-il…and this indoctrination begins when they are still toddlers.

4) There are spies everywhere ready to report any conversation that can be understood as being critical of the government.

5) Kim Jong-il’s extended family (half-siblings and cousins) hold all key positions in the government.

Another reason why is because he can antagonize the United States and not worry about any backlashes. He takes advantage of this as ‘proof’ for his propaganda machine.

The U.S. can do nothing about it, the knows that if they pre-empatively strike NK, than millions of SKoreans could die. I know what some one of guys are probably thinking. But in the realistic viewpoint (for sake of reputation and responsibility) they wouldn’t do it.

He was born Yuri Irsenovich (from his father’s Russian name Ir-sen) Kim, but was known as ‘Yura’ (a nickname of Yuri) until he started attending school. At least one man who is believed to be one of his half-sibling, all of which are believed to be high ranking members of the North Korean government (their existance and their real rank are tightly kept secret in North Korea), has been known to switch names depending on who he talks to. His father started the trend. He was born Kim Sung-ju.

Basically, too many people means not enough food means it’s easier for the government to come in and take more control. All it has to do is say, “Someone needs to be in charge of what little we have.” You don’t even need a lot of people, just the right ratio of mouths to food. (I’m stealing the above idea from vague memories of Brave New World Revisited.)

Obviously, this is not the only reason why North Korean rulers have been able to keep control, but it might explain some of their success.

Still, interesting that he was given a Russian name.

Kim was born “Uri” or George

What the hell does that mean?