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He doesn't want nuclear war, he wants to go legitimate like Mao and the Chinese did. He wants NK to be treated like a legitimate world power, even if it's at th

He doesn't want nuclear war, he wants to go legitimate like Mao and the Chinese did. He wants NK to be treated like a legitimate world power, even if it's at the butt of a gun.

noobermin 9y ago
It would be true if it was his father. The Nuke program was always a bluff to get more economic aid. For Un? We don't know...we do know he has attempted to purge those critical of him in his own inner circle. Unfortunately, I don't think our leader is that sane either.
- jackvalentine 9y ago
  It seems pretty straight forward to me - Un needs nuclear weapons to ensure NK remains an independent state that can defend itself. > we do know he has attempted to purge those critical of him in his own inner circle. Similarly, when your hold on power isn't through any kind of legitimacy except a fading family legacy you need to be strong and eliminate the competition. He's not insane, he's just playing a very brutal game with higher stakes than you or I will know in our lifetimes.
  - flamedoge 9y ago
    Whether Un's motives are rational is bikeshedding.. for now, the world has to answer to his bluffs.
    - jackvalentine 9y ago
      It's incredibly amusing to watch the commentariat re-discover Realism. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Realism_(international_relations) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Realism_(international_relatio...
alacombe 9y ago
Mao was never legitimate. Even today's communist Chinese regime recognize the cultural revolution was a bloodbath (ie. 30 to 50 millions DEATH). Generally speaking NK will never be treated legitimately if they keep behaving like the worst left-wing dictator the world has known in the last centuries. Kim's assassination of his brother in Kuala Lumpur or the regular purges are abject. You can criticize Trump [ed. without being deported to concentration camps!], but Kim is worse by a thousand order of magnitude.
- rflrob 9y ago
  Legitimate is as legitimate does. Mao was terrible, but Nixon shook hands with him and paved the way for US recognition of the PRC under Carter. There are some nasty people in charge of nations, and it's not clear to me that not acknowledging them as the de facto leaders of their countries makes the world a safer place.
- icebraining 9y ago
  Constantine killed his own wife and son, yet he's been venerated for over 2000 years, and was even canonized.
- Hasknewbie 9y ago
  > Mao was never legitimate. Even today's communist Chinese regime recognize the cultural revolution was a bloodbath Have you been to Tien An Men? Mao's portrait is still there, proudly displayed at the entrance of the Forbidden City. He's still very much legitimate in China (sadly), and if you criticize him a bit too openly you'll get in trouble.

He doesn't want nuclear war, he wants to go legitimate like Mao and the Chinese did. He wants NK to be treated like a legitimate world power, even if it's at the butt of a gun.

noobermin 9y ago

It would be true if it was his father. The Nuke program was always a bluff to get more economic aid. For Un? We don't know...we do know he has attempted to purge those critical of him in his own inner circle. Unfortunately, I don't think our leader is that sane either.

jackvalentine 9y ago
It seems pretty straight forward to me - Un needs nuclear weapons to ensure NK remains an independent state that can defend itself. > we do know he has attempted to purge those critical of him in his own inner circle. Similarly, when your hold on power isn't through any kind of legitimacy except a fading family legacy you need to be strong and eliminate the competition. He's not insane, he's just playing a very brutal game with higher stakes than you or I will know in our lifetimes.
- flamedoge 9y ago
  Whether Un's motives are rational is bikeshedding.. for now, the world has to answer to his bluffs.
  - jackvalentine 9y ago
    It's incredibly amusing to watch the commentariat re-discover Realism. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Realism_(international_relations) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Realism_(international_relatio...

alacombe 9y ago

Mao was never legitimate. Even today's communist Chinese regime recognize the cultural revolution was a bloodbath (ie. 30 to 50 millions DEATH). Generally speaking NK will never be treated legitimately if they keep behaving like the worst left-wing dictator the world has known in the last centuries. Kim's assassination of his brother in Kuala Lumpur or the regular purges are abject. You can criticize Trump [ed. without being deported to concentration camps!], but Kim is worse by a thousand order of magnitude.

rflrob 9y ago
Legitimate is as legitimate does. Mao was terrible, but Nixon shook hands with him and paved the way for US recognition of the PRC under Carter. There are some nasty people in charge of nations, and it's not clear to me that not acknowledging them as the de facto leaders of their countries makes the world a safer place.
icebraining 9y ago
Constantine killed his own wife and son, yet he's been venerated for over 2000 years, and was even canonized.
Hasknewbie 9y ago
> Mao was never legitimate. Even today's communist Chinese regime recognize the cultural revolution was a bloodbath Have you been to Tien An Men? Mao's portrait is still there, proudly displayed at the entrance of the Forbidden City. He's still very much legitimate in China (sadly), and if you criticize him a bit too openly you'll get in trouble.