What could go wrong when two mad-men meet? North Korea 'executes envoy to US' after Trump summit failures – report https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...cutes-envoy-to-us-after-trump-summit-failures North Korea’s special envoy to the US, who was credited with paving the way for nuclear talks with Washington, has reportedly been executed over the failure of the recent summit between North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, and Donald Trump. The South Korean Chosun Ilbo newspaper said that Kim Hyok-chol and foreign ministry officials who conducted working-level preparations for February’s doomed Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi, were executed in March. The newspaper’s claims, based on unnamed North Korean sources, have not been independently verified. North Korea has not confirmed or denied the executions, and other actions taken against officials, and the regime has challenged previous media claims about executions. The South Korean government was unable to confirm the report. The paper said Kim Yong-chol, a senior official who had been US secretary of state Mike Pompeo’s counterpart in the run-up to the summit,had been subjected to forced labour and “ideological education”. The Chosun Ilbo said that Kim had launched another purge of senior officials in an attempt to divert attention from internal turmoil and discontent. “Kim Hyok-chol was investigated and executed at Mirim airport with four foreign ministry officials in March,” an unnamed North Korea source said, according to the newspaper, adding that they were charged with spying for the US. Kim Hyok-chol had been the counterpart to Stephen Biegun, the US special representative for North Korea, before the summit. Kim Yong-chol was forced to work in Jagang province after his dismissal, the newspaper’s source said, adding that Kim Song-hye, who carried out working-level negotiations with Kim Hyok-chol, was sent to a political prison camp. Shin Hye-yong, who interpreted for Kim at the Hanoi summit, was reportedly detained at a political prison camp for undermining Kim’s authority by making a critical interpreting mistake, the newspaper said. Kim Yo-jong, the regime leader’s sister who has been at her brother’s sidethroughout both nuclear summits, is also said to be “lying low” on her brother’s orders, the paper reported, citing an unnamed South Korean government official, who said: “We are not aware of Kim Yo-jong’s track record since the Hanoi meeting.” Although it made no mention of the purges reported by the Chosun Ilbo, the North Korean state newspaper Rodong Sinmun said in a commentary on Thursday: “Acting like one is revering the leader in front [of others] but dreaming of something else when one turns around, is an anti-party, anti-revolutionary act that has thrown away the moral fidelity toward the leader, and such people will not avoid the stern judgment of the revolution.” “There are traitors and turncoats who only memorise words of loyalty toward the leader and even change according to the trend of the time.” It is the first time since the December 2013 execution of Jang Song-thaek, Kim’s uncle and mentor, that expressions such as “anti-party, anti-revolutionary” and “stern judgment” have appeared in Rodong Sinmun, according to Chosun Ilbo. Kim has presided over several high-profile purges since he became leader in late 2011 after the death of his father, Kim Jong-il. He has also punished those whose behaviour he considers disrespectful. In 2016, he ordered the execution of Ri Yong-jin, a senior official in the education ministry, for falling asleep at a meeting chaired by the North Korean leader. A year earlier, Hyon Yong-chol, a former North Korean defence chief, was reportedly executed with an anti-aircraft gun, for disrespectful behaviour that included napping during a military rally attended by Kim.
And this is the guy US president hugs and praises. Imagine, just for a sec, if it was done by democrat. Fox and right would explode with rage never seen before. But it is OK if it is their guy. Bolton/Hannity and etc were mad when Obama just mentioned that he might talk with anyone. Bunch of hypocrites and liars.
Imagine if NK opens up to the world economically. Even if it's through a dictatorship, it would be great for the North Korean people as well as South Korea.
If NK opened up to the world China would have an unprecedented illegal immigration problem on their hands on a scale the US can't even imagine. China and Russia have a vested interest in playing into little rocket man's power fantasies. Neither of them want to deal with the fall out of a liberated NK.
Happy to see that Trump has found a way to exasperate and troll even North Korea. To the point of summary execution of the exact same Party officials that had their way with Obama, Bush, and Clinton. That is some accomplishment, because NK is used to having it the other way with the US, regardless of political party. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...ap-of-faith-falls-short-idUSBRE82T06T20120330
Opening up economically would imply at least, on some level, a global program that could introduce western values to the North Koreans. Rocket man and his dead relatives have built an entire regime on a literal fantasy. Their news casts declare they've waged (and won!) wars against the US "imperialists", they are brainwashed to believe the ruling family has invented most modern technology, and they are willing to sell out their own family for extra food. These people on average don't even really know what computers are because there is only one class (the top tier loyalists) who can use them. It is truly a fascinating microcosm of the result of rule by an absolute despot. If North Korea opened up to global trade their entire smoke screen would be blown away and people would likely commit mass suicide, rebel, or flee. Imagine the entire cities of New York and Los Angeles (due to population size equivalency) suddenly woke up and realized their entire existence has been predicated on a power fantasy by their governors. It would be absolute pandemonium.
I don’t think it would occur exactly as the above , I mean to that extreme.Cuba experienced the same type of multi generational brainwashing. The big difference is that early on before Fidel took over many Cubans fled and where able to send money, communicate with family members back home , etc. NK is literally and I mean literally cut off from the rest of the planet.