In case anyone actually gives a shit…

by Robert Koehler on July 18, 2012

In North Korea, Kim Jong-un has been promoted to “marshal.”

If you were wondering what North Korea’s “major announcement” set for noon was, that was it. Sorry to disappoint.

If you need to attach meaning to this, Aidan Foster-Carter told the WSJ:

“I think the tide has turned,” said Aidan Foster-Carter, a North Korea watcher at Leeds University in England. “Under Kim Jong Il, possibly because his own military credentials weren’t so strong, the military rose significantly. But Kim Jong Eun’s arrival has been managed by the political party.”

Personally, I think this means KJU is really, really good at Call of Duty. Which reminds me, I need to go down to Yongsan and pick up a copy of Spec Ops: The Line, which I’ve read great things about.

Tagged as: Kim Jong-un

{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }

1 madar July 18, 2012 at 3:48 pm: Damn, I was betting he was going to be named high grand pooba of the universe next.
2 Dayv Mattt July 18, 2012 at 3:53 pm: BF3 dude….BF3.
3 Sperwer Accipiter July 18, 2012 at 4:08 pm: And Aiden infers this from what evidence by what process of reasoning?
4 Robert Koehler July 18, 2012 at 4:33 pm: Hey, I love BF 3. But man cannot live on BF 3 alone.
5 imememememe July 18, 2012 at 6:00 pm: How many chicks is he banging every week is what I’d like to know.
6 Jeffery Hodges July 18, 2012 at 6:36 pm: Glad the marshal decision has been made — that parade up north needs a marshal.

Jeffery Hodges

* * *
7 LazyassBruiser July 18, 2012 at 6:50 pm: Hard-earned money
8 Hamilton July 18, 2012 at 7:21 pm: Military credentials are immaterial. In NK reality is created by master propaganda artists. What version of KIS’s biography are we on now, is it version 55?

KJU is a military genius of the highest caliber renowned worldwide for his strategic vision. If you don’t believe that then you get too much food and are not part of the UPP or TK’s social group.
9 Josh Perlstein July 18, 2012 at 9:17 pm: I care.
10 KWillets July 18, 2012 at 10:22 pm: He’s nothing without TheKorean’s relatives to democratize the country.
11 jeff.harris July 19, 2012 at 3:51 am: And his marshal’s baton is made of the

1) special maple imported from Canada
2) leather from the tanned hides of his enemies
3) chipmunks to match his face
12 Bob Bobbs July 19, 2012 at 6:37 am: Marshal law.
13 Seoul stories July 19, 2012 at 4:48 pm: Look out GOD, someone thinks he is on the same level as you. I seem to recall a German who thought along these very same lines. The whole world suffered then and will surely suffer again. Only this time much worse with nukes…
14 SomeguyinKorea July 19, 2012 at 9:43 pm: Here’s the only Marshall I have any respect for:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImaH51F4HBw
15 gumiho July 20, 2012 at 1:18 am: Can you imagine making someone with no military background at all the leader of that nation’s military? LOL! Wait,what? Commander in Chief? ….um,nevermind…..
16 Byeonguk Yook July 20, 2012 at 10:53 am: Our little Hitler.
17 dlbarch July 20, 2012 at 10:59 am: If Robert will indulge a little public notice….

For the budding IR/Asian Security policy wonks out there, please take note that Pacific Forum CSIS is now accepting applications for the resident Handa, Kelly, and Vasey Fellowship positions for the fall, to start as early as September 2012.

Details for all three fellowships, including application forms, can be found at the Pacific Forum web site at http://csis.org/program/pacific-forum-csis.

The deadline for all applications is August 15, 2012.

This is a great opportunity to escape the expat dead-end and take that hard-earned degree from one of the GSIS programs at SNU, Yonsei, Kodae, or wherever, and put it to good use!

Oh, and good luck!

DLB