"1. Internal revolt and overthrow of the government. Highly unlikely to happen given Kims stranglehold over the military and the indoctrination of the people to their ideals ie. Juche, self reliance and devotion to the dear leader."
Definitely wont happen. I read an article that made me think twice, that showed the people actually ADORED Kim....surprise, surprise. Obviously he isnt seen by them as a brutal despot....
" When Kim Jong-il, and his son, Kim Jong-eun appeared, the crowd was whipped into a frenzy that I actually found a bit frightening. I've been to political conventions and Super Bowls - I've never heard cheering like this. The North Korean government put us in the first row of the stadium, the best seats in the house. I was 20 yards [18 meters] from hundreds of performers. The appearance of the Kims let loose a torrent of emotion. Everyone in the stands, and on the field, including soldiers in uniform, turned in the direction of the father and son, started bobbing up and down on their feet with their arms outstretched toward the Dear Leader, palms turned up, and began to make a high pitched sound: "whoooooooooooooo." They didn't stop hopping and whoooooo-ing for 15 minutes, while the Dear Leader and heir apparent drank in the adoration.
I looked at the faces of the performers. A group of a dozen women were right in front of me. All had tears streaking down their faces. Clearly, being in proximity to Kim Jong-il was an experience beyond "powerful." Not even "enraptured" quite does it justice. This was a unique emotional transaction. Kim Jong-il didn't say a word to the crowd. No speech, no communication of any kind between him and them. I'd never been in the presence of a crowd that hyper-affiliated before. Which set the stage perfectly for the next morning.
The crowd's joy was far from being just emotional, as it had a sound basis in the dramatic changes occurring in the country."
Full article: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/LK23Dg01.html
A very interesting article that shows my conception of North Korea, and probably yours, was somewhat flawed and it is not really the backward country I thought it to be, apart from militarily..... Maybe we could even learn from them....
