The discussion revolves around the potential political reforms in North Korea under Kim Jong-un, drawing parallels with China's reforms under Deng Xiaoping. Participants explore the implications of Kim Jong-un's Western education and the influence of China on North Korea's future direction.
Participants express differing views on the implications of Kim Jong-un's education and the likelihood of successful reforms in North Korea, indicating that multiple competing perspectives remain without consensus.
Some assumptions about the impact of education on leadership effectiveness and the motivations behind succession choices are not fully explored or agreed upon.
State television in North Korea has shown live pictures of the leader, Kim Jong-il, reviewing a military parade accompanied by his youngest son, Kim Jong-un.
There have been clear signs that China would like North Korea to develop in very much the same way as China itself did in the 1970s and 80s, leading to the rampant and highly successful state-controlled capitalism of recent years.
The main architect of this change was Deng Xiaoping. Interestingly, his only formal official position for years was his control over the military committee of China's Communist Party: not very different from the most important of the young Kim Jong-un's new jobs.
China clearly wants reform in North Korea. There have been various signs of its alarm over North Korea's unpredictable military policy.
rootX said:But on the good side, he was educated in West.
Office_Shredder said:This seems like a bold assumption
And in the odd politics of the Kim family, distinctly absurd to Western eyes, it may make sense to pass over Kim Jong-il's relatives and his two elder sons and hand on the succession to his youngest, who was educated in Switzerland.