Cult of Kim

In class we discussed just how devoted many North Koreans are to the Kim dynasty, as well as how delusional the Kims have been over the years. The family’s iron-tight grip over the nation has led to isolation, with citizens unaware of just how much of their suffering stems from the Kims’ mismanagement of the nation. In an age where many politicians are seen as dishonest, lazy, or conniving by a good chunk of the world, leaders like Kim Jong Un are treated like gods in North Korea.

 

Everyone is weeping and mourning the death of Kim Jong-Il one moment, and singing the praises of their new leader the next. It is a curious duality that many North Koreans seem to act: the loss of their previous leader is met with so much emotion that it is hard to believe they would accept anyone new. Yet they also accept their new leader with such joy and enthusiasm that it makes one wonder if they cared about the last one at all. While the above clip dates back a couple of years, North Korea has not changed much in matters of policy for decades. As the reporter mentions, North Korea continues to follow a policy of “military first” which fosters the zealous nationalism that makes the veneration of such despotic leaders possible.