Rumors of Kim Jong Un’s demise appear to be greatly exaggerated. Or have they?
It seems that Mr. Kim is alive and well, after all. On Saturday, North Korean state media released photos and video footage of him smiling, chatting and walking before a large crowd at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which it said took place on Friday.
Such reports are almost impossible to confirm. But after the photos appeared, South Korea — which had repeatedly insisted there was “nothing unusual” happening in the North — issued a strong rebuke about the various news reports that had suggested Mr. Kim was in peril.
Of course, the Orange Monster was estatic to hear that his dictator buddy was alive and well.
Never, ever, would I have imagined a President of the United States cheering a ruthless dictator. That there are Americans who think this is normal or ok is, mind boggling.
And let’s be realistic- we still don’t know where he was for the last three weeks, or why he never left the coast. It’s only an unstable country with nuclear weapons, what could go wrong?
One of the biggest lessons from recent weeks is that “the world is largely unprepared for instability in North Korea,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha Woman’s University in Seoul.
Outside analysts fear that if Mr. Kim suddenly died, the country’s dozens of nuclear devices — as well as chemical and biological weapons, conventional arms, and a 1.2 million-strong military — would be at the center of a messy, cutthroat contest for power.
“The combination of loose nukes and political conflict is a nightmare scenario for the world,” said Danny Russel, vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute, who dealt with North Korea as a National Security Council director at the White House and an assistant secretary of state for Asia. “Political turmoil could lead a faction or a commander to brandish or — God forbid — launch a nuclear-armed missile. ”
On the plus side, however, is the fact that his sister might take the reins of power leaving us to be incinerated by a hot Asian dominatrix:
As soon as speculation started about the unknown fate of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the internet began heaving with a disturbing appreciation of Kim’s younger sister and possible successor, Kim Yo Jong. The idea that the 32-year-old would soon ascend to North Korea’s top spot triggered a range of fantasies. Internet users expressed their wish for Kim to torture them, choke them, or sentence them to hard labor; others were inspired to transform her into a winsome anime heroine or produce high-octane video montages in the style usually reserved for K-pop stars.
Many female political figures are judged in terms of their sexual desirability in a way their male counterparts rarely face. Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was derided for her “cankles,” while former Alaska Gov. and vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin was praised for her MILF status.
And we all know how well a stupid MILF running for Vice President worked out, don’t we?
Nonetheless, it has appealed to our baser instincts.
But the outpouring of prurient interest in Kim represents an intersection of these erotic fantasies with the potent force of Orientalism—in which the Western audience projects fantasies onto the unknown East and at the same time seeks to render it intelligible with symbols and generalizations.
It’s giving us some great artwork too.
Wow. Legions of anime artists are just chomping at the bit to get that into print. In addition to that one, here is a more “subtle” rendition. Her desk note reads 오빠 oppa (brother).
Lest anyone get too swept away, it’s probably good to remember that if she did become North Korea’s ruler she would be in command of 400 pieces of long-range artillery pointing right at Seoul.
It does prove, yet again, the utility of Rule 34, however.
Once again, Western anxiety about an unknown regime is being channeled into fear and fantasy about sexual manipulation by a female sovereign—compounded by internet thirstiness that puts extremely hot and extremely online women (“e-girls”) on a pedestal and fetishizes male subservience. At any rate, as long as North Korea remains a nation of danger and mystery, the internet will keep simping for Kim Yo Jong.
Can this year get any weirder?
Yes, it can…..
