Highlights and the theme song from "Rocky 4" were played during a performance by the newly-created Moranbong troupe in front of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un last Friday. The show also featured groups of female singers dressed in mini-skirts, high-heeled shoes or off-the-shoulder tops reminiscent of the girl groups of South Korea, and performers dressed as Disney characters.
It's starting to look more and more as if the people round KJU are giving idiot boy things to play with while they run the serious stuff. If the North does move from a family dynasty to a more collective authoritarian setup, that also implies some measure of economic reform, if only because the economy will have to grow somewhat to satisfy the wider range of interests in play. The question then is whether these can play nice or start tearing each other to pieces, which I guess is where China comes into the picture. Relatedly, Lankov's good on this.
How does the sacking of the head of the army interplay with that? Any Kumsusanologists want to speculate...?
Posted by: john b | July 16, 2012 at 07:17 AM
This information is invaluable. When can I find out more?
Posted by: CoC Hosen | July 21, 2012 at 12:05 AM