Three Kim's for the price of one.....

Amid a torrent of tears that was a bizarre as it was chilling, last month the next Kim-in-Line took over in North Korea. Kim Jong-un succeeds his father, Kim Jong-Il, who in turn succeeded his own father, Kim ll-sung, in a sort of succession of Stalinist like Royalty. For the long suffering people of what’s euphemistically called the Hermit Kingdom, this must be like some recurring nightmare.  

And a recurring nightmare it is. Like some twisted Hotel California, it seems that although the Kims check out from time to time, they never leave. Take Granddad Kim (let’s call him Kim 1). Notwithstanding his status, whilst alive, as a fire-breathing, godless Stalinist, it seems there was a bit of a change of heart after the cessation of his more basic bodily functions. As his last breath faded away, a niche was miraculously found for him in the rather overcrowded market of the afterlife.

In life Kim 1 studiously followed the job description of “Really Mad Dictator” to the letter and beyond. He was President of the Republic, as well as simultaneously Chairman and General Secretary of the inevitable (Korean) Workers’ Party. Even Uncle Joe Stalin allowed another minion to take the ceremonial role of President. Not Kim 1. He was the megalomaniac generalissimo’s generalissimo.  It seems though that his megalomania exists beyond the grave, for he is now even designated in North Korea’s constitution as their “Eternal President” beaming down upon his starved and impoverished people like some distant, benevolent god from huge posters all over Pyong Yang.

He was succeeded by Kim Jung Ill (Number 2), who has also now of late departed this life.  Kim 2 apparently suffered a heart attack due to physical and mental over-work, the Korean News Agency dutifully informed the world. He was, we are told, on his train, travelling to offer "field guidance" to workers, when he died. The mind boggles, but I guess those workers will get over the disappointment given time ….

Kim 2’s status in the great beyond is still to be clarified – no one can be too sure what will happen to him, it’s all a bit tricky because his Dad’s already secured the top job – perhaps Kim 1 will magnanimously allowed him observer status from his constitutional perch in the afterlife. All this would of course be silly farce if it weren’t for the fact that Kims 1 and 2 were brutal monsters who after their grim terms as life presidents could still be used for propaganda purposes in times of national emergency. Such is the level of madness and indoctrination in North Korean propoganda. 

This is especially dangerous given that, as its neighbours are so acutely aware, North Korea “has the nuclear bomb”. The only shaky consolation is that it doesn’t yet appear to have sufficiently reliable missile capability to launch it with a more than even chance it won’t fall back on top of them. Relying on a sort of national nuclear embarrassment is hardly the greatest deterrent for those its its shadow.

But, back to the story of succession. Kim 2 was succeeded by Kim Jong-un with what now must qualify as genetically inherited “despotism”. Kim 3 looks like a particularly bad tempered cherub, with his weirdly round and expressionless chubby face. Unknown and seemingly unknowable, it’s hard not to believe he is the next blank canvas of terror to be stretched across his impoverished nation. In the impenetrable world of North Korean politics it’s impossible to predict what will happen next, save for the fact that the misery and pain of the citizens of what is, not so much a Hermit Kingdom, but one huge merciless Gulag, will continue with the 3^rd Kim.