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Playing the crazy card is the only thing the NK regime has going for it strategically. Kim Jong Un wants to make sure that the prospect of regime change in NK i

by cirgue 9y ago

Playing the crazy card is the only thing the NK regime has going for it strategically. Kim Jong Un wants to make sure that the prospect of regime change in NK is as unappealing as possible for the US, China, SK, and anyone else that might want to try. Part of that is demonstrating nuclear and missile capability in ways that seem reckless and dramatic. He wants policy makers to be 100% unsure of what would happen at an NK missile installation if there were a coup or invasion, and he wants them to know that the range of potential outcomes includes some really unpleasant ones.

KGIII 9y ago
If you ever get to go to SK, you may notice that the average citizen doesn't really fear NK. Why? Because they have been subjected to this for a long time. Hell, in the past decade, NK has sent a threat to SK - by fax. In other words, it's pretty reasonable to believe this is just Un trying to rile people up until someone sends them some more aid. As we haven't sent any, the behavior gets more and more outlandish. Inside the Hermit Kingdom, I'm pretty sure the leaders are well aware of the futility of actual war. Mr. Un is just doing what his father and grandfather have done. They are basically screaming until mommy buys them some candy.
- ddoolin 9y ago
  When writing Korean names, like Chinese and probably others, the last name comes first, and more often than not that holds true when they're written in English, too. So his last name is Kim and his given name is Jong-Un. Separating the two syllables of the given name makes no sense, as in "Mr. Un". Mr. Jong-Un would be more appropriate, but Mr. Kim would be even more appropriate, as in Korean you don't refer to someone as "Mr. GivenName".
  - KGIII 9y ago
    Thanks. I will keep that in mind for the future, however. Mr. Kim has a nice ring to it. Edited because I read your post more carefully.
  - LyndsySimon 9y ago
    In light of this, I've tried to eradicate the term "last name" from my vocabulary. Instead, I use "given name" and "family name". Yes, I know that's not universal either, but it's close enough that it helps me conceptualize names when I'm writing code that must deal with them :)

by cirgue 9y ago

KGIII 9y ago

If you ever get to go to SK, you may notice that the average citizen doesn't really fear NK. Why? Because they have been subjected to this for a long time. Hell, in the past decade, NK has sent a threat to SK - by fax. In other words, it's pretty reasonable to believe this is just Un trying to rile people up until someone sends them some more aid. As we haven't sent any, the behavior gets more and more outlandish. Inside the Hermit Kingdom, I'm pretty sure the leaders are well aware of the futility of actual war. Mr. Un is just doing what his father and grandfather have done. They are basically screaming until mommy buys them some candy.

ddoolin 9y ago
When writing Korean names, like Chinese and probably others, the last name comes first, and more often than not that holds true when they're written in English, too. So his last name is Kim and his given name is Jong-Un. Separating the two syllables of the given name makes no sense, as in "Mr. Un". Mr. Jong-Un would be more appropriate, but Mr. Kim would be even more appropriate, as in Korean you don't refer to someone as "Mr. GivenName".
- KGIII 9y ago
  Thanks. I will keep that in mind for the future, however. Mr. Kim has a nice ring to it. Edited because I read your post more carefully.
- LyndsySimon 9y ago
  In light of this, I've tried to eradicate the term "last name" from my vocabulary. Instead, I use "given name" and "family name". Yes, I know that's not universal either, but it's close enough that it helps me conceptualize names when I'm writing code that must deal with them :)