Tag: Kim Jong-un

It looks like Kim Jong-un has something else to celebrate other than weapons tests:

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his “beloved daughter” Ju-ae attended a ceremony marking a newly built street at the north gateway of Pyongyang, the North’s state media reported Wednesday. 

It was the first time in about two months that Ju-ae made a public appearance since she visited a military unit on March 15. Kim and his daughter attended the ceremony on Tuesday, according to the North’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The KCNA described the street as “clear proof of validity and vitality of the WPK’s ideology of valuing the youth and a striking demonstration of invincibility of the revolutionary cause of Juche.”

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

I cannot understand how Kristi Noem did not think that she would be called out on the claim she met with Kim Jong-un? Very few people have ever met with Kim Jong-un and why would he ever meet with the governor of South Dakota? This was a falsity that was easy for any journalist to sniff out. So instead of owning up to the lie in her book she has instead been calling it “fake news”. There is definitely plenty examples of fake news out there, but this incident is definitely not one of them:

But more broadly, it seems these stories are in No Going Back because Noem wanted the book to convey to Donald Trump and his supporters that she’s not like the other politicians on his VP shortlist: She’s tough, she’s folksy, and she isn’t afraid to do what needs to be done, whether that means standing up to a foreign dictator or shooting a puppy.

So it isn’t surprising that Noem is trying to defend herself by using a classic MAGA tactic: saying she’s the victim of the “Fake News.” But it is pretty funny, since the “news” in question is just stuff she said in her own book. (…..)

Ironically, in her next two interviews, Noem seemed to “run from the truth.” Face the Nation’s Margaret Brennan asked the governor a simple question: “Did you meet Kim Jong-un?”

Though Noem acknowledged that the claim is being removed from the book, she refused to answer the question directly, weirdly emphasizing that she’s met plenty of world leaders.

“As soon as this was brought to my attention, I certainly made some changes and looked at this passage,” Noem said. “And I’ve met with many, many world leaders. I’ve traveled around the world. As soon as it was brought to my attention, we went forward and have made some edits.”

Brennan kept pressing Noem on how the false claim got into the book and why it took her so long to catch it, since the governor read the audiobook herself. Brennan noted that this wasn’t a passing reference to Kim; Noem remarks in the book, “I’m sure he underestimated me, having no clue about my experience staring down little tyrants (I’d been a children’s pastor, after all).”

The Intelligencer

You can read more at the link, but I think she has effectively ended any hope she had of being a vice presidential candidate.

When it comes to claims from defectors I give the usual caveat of who knows how true this actually is. With that said I would not be surprised if Kim Jong-un didn’t have his own pleasure squad as the defector claims:

사진 확대Kim Jong-un (left) and North Korean defector Park Yeon-mi [Photo source = Yonhap News, Mirror]

A North Korean woman claimed that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is selecting a “joy group” for pleasure like his father Kim Jong-il.

On the 30th of last month (local time), the British Mirror published an article titled “Kim Jong-un picks 25 maidens every year to entertain him in the creepy pleasure class.”

The Mirror wrote an article based on the argument of Park Yeon-mi, a North Korean defector. Park introduced when Joyjo appeared and which women were selected.

He claimed that he was a twice-nominated candidate but was not chosen because of his family’s status.

Park explained that the Joyjo idea was devised by Kim Jong Il in the 1970s. He said he picked a few pretty women and took them to the resort where his father, Kim Il-sung, was going.

Kim Jong-il created a second Joyjo for himself in 1983, Park claimed.

“The three men have different preferences for women, so the team composition has changed,” he said. “Kim Jong-il prefers women who are shorter than 160cm but not too tall, and Kim Jong-un prefers slim and Western women.”

Park claimed that the Joy group consisted of three groups each responsible for massage, performance, and sexual activity.

Maiel Kyeongchae

You can read more at the link.

The bromance between Putin and Kim continues:

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has received a Russian-made luxury car from Russian President Vladimir Putin as a gift demonstrating the special bonds between the two leaders, state media reported Tuesday.

The gift serves as a “clear demonstration of the special personal relations between the two leaders and as the best one,” according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Russia conveyed the vehicle for Kim’s personal use Sunday to Pak Jong-chon, a secretary of the ruling Worker’s Party of Korea, and Kim Yo-jong, the sister of the North’s leader. She delivered Kim Jong-un’s thanks to Putin to the Russian side, the report said.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

Some expert believe all the war rhetoric directed at South Korea from Kim Jong-un may be because of pressure he is facing domestically from millenials:

The group of people who believe fear-driven barking is more convincing than the war scenario highlights North Korea’s internal factors as a source of Kim’s belligerent behavior. They argue that such behavior serves to deflect attention from domestic issues and challenges. Inside this school of thought, views are divided. Some argue that economic frustration is a key driver of North Korea’s escalating saber-rattling.

Others argue that the primary driver behind North Korea’s increasing saber-rattling is not just a food shortage but a more fundamental concern. According to this perspective, Kim Jong-un is deeply troubled by South Korea’s cultural influence, which has become widespread, especially among teenagers and millennials in their 20s and 30s. This group, often referred to as the “Jangmadang Generation,” grew up experiencing elements of capitalism through their parents’ involvement in markets to make ends meet. They believe that if not adequately controlled, this cultural influence could pose a serious threat to the regime.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link, but uncontrolled access to outside information has always been a major threat to the Kim regime. Keeping the North Korean people isolated and indoctrinated with only regime propaganda is a must to maintain the current system of power.