Thinking about what happens with North Korea if Kim Jong Un dies suddenly.

He's relatively young. He's assassinated most of his relatives. He's purged the old guard, and anyone too openly ambitious or tight with China.

He has a sister, but she's never shown any ambition.

But it's not going to fall.

Because we have Donald Trump, so we'll be exerting no real pressure at best. And fucking it up at worst.

South Korea is conflicted on reunification. They'd like less BATSHIT North Korea ~ but the more time and drift passes the less likely reuni is

And ultimately China still likes the buffer zone. So in all likelyhood they'll back whoever seems best for their interest and that'll be it.

Which could happen anyway if they're not pleased with Un, and he's incapacitated. They could just off him.

Anyway, I don't think it will be too terrible for the world or anything, I don't think NK goes nuts and bombs anyone or anything. I don't even think they'll have a civil war.

But sadly...I don't think they'll have freedom either. And I think their lives will remain shitty.

And MAYBE that would happen regardless.

But it's a shame we don't have actual leadership at the moment.

Oh and the whole cult of that family won't immediately end.

Though with technology smuggling and most importantly the exposure of outside culture (South Korean television shows, western media, etc) they aren't entirely ignorant of the world.

But most people

*really* believe. And their criticisms and issues (what we do know of it) are often over the system...not the Dear Leaders.

And over the deprivation and suffering, which they know it's better elsewhere.

But there's not a ton of communication due to repression

And the fact that people still are murdered or 3 generations sent to a camp ...so it's just accounts that are either from people who've escaped and told their viewpoints, or the rare footage smuggled out of private convos or workplace discussions