[KS] I, II III ... The provocative consanguinity of Kims

Sun Jan 15 20:12:51 EST 2012

Thank you Dr. Frank and others for this farsighted view. I am wondering also
whether in N there are other lineages, perhaps in the Party or military,
where sons are promoted into father¹s ranks upon the death (assuming no
³retirement²). 
-- 
Lauren W. Deutsch
835 S. Lucerne Blvd., #103
Los Angeles CA 90005
Tel 323 930-2587  Cell 323 775-7454
E lwdeutsch at earthlink.net

From: Ruediger Frank <ruediger.frank at univie.ac.at>
Organization: University of Vienna
Reply-To: Ruediger Frank <ruediger.frank at univie.ac.at>, Korean Studies
Discussion List <koreanstudies at koreaweb.ws>
Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:18:35 +0100
To: Korean Studies Discussion List <koreanstudies at koreaweb.ws>
Subject: Re: [KS] I, II III ... The provocative consanguinity of Kims

Dear Lauren and all,
I have for years used the sun-moon analogy to illustrate that (for example
here: http://www.japanfocus.org/-Ruediger-Frank/3197). The moon (2nd
generation) shines because it reflects the sun's (1st generation) light. A
first succession is thus easy. A second succession is trickier. Kim3 has
three options: become the moon's moon (very weak light); become a sun (risky
and hard to do); or become another (parallel) moon that is illuminated
directly by the sun, too.
I think we see two parallel developments in NK at this time: To turn Kim2
into another sun (posthumously); and turn Kim3 into a moon of Kim1. This
would elevate him to the same status as Kim2 over time, although I'd
actually think that Kim1 and Kim2 will be merged into one entity and serve
as one sun (SuperKim). This would create a sustainable model as all other
leaders will become moons of that sun. I called it the "enshrined leaders"
system 
(http://www.nautilus.org/publications/essays/napsnet/forum/2009-2010/the-nor
th-korean-worker2019s-party-meeting-of-september-2010-perpetuation-of-the-li
ving-leader-system-or-transformation-to-the-enshrined-leader-system). In a
way, this is how our two big monotheistic religions (Christianity and Islam)
function.
On a less scholarly sidenote, the term t'aeyang (and the names Il Sòng and
Chòng Il) fit nicely into that concept; April 1th is the Day of the Sun; and
Feb. 16 just became Day of the Shining Star, which is also a sun, isn't it.
Best regards,
Rudiger Frank
PS: Concerning Kent Davis' question about "empirically respectable
evidence": I actually believe that we have more than enough evidence,
although opinions differ on how to interpret it. This refers both to
qualitative and quantitative research. All it takes is to read
systematically through NK propaganda, as for example Patrick MacEachern or
Brian Myers did it. I have focused on this type of research, too. It can be
supplemented by an analysis of graphic images
(http://www.amazon.de/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?__mk_de_DE=%C5M%C5Z%D5%D1&url=searc
h-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=exploring+north+korean+arts) or slogans on
display in NK. For a list of my contributions, which are not necessarily
mainstream though, see http://univie.academia.edu/RuedigerFrank

on Freitag, 13. Januar 2012 at 21:49 you wrote:

Today¹s Huffington Post notes in an article (link, below) headlined re
punishments for insincere mourners, that that Kim III is said to be
patterning his leadership role after Kim I, not his father, Kim II. This
gives insight into the pattern of consanguinity we learn about in
Traditional Chinese medicine, that the grandparent and grandchild have more
affinity than the child to parent. We know that 2 points make a line, but
three points creates an entirely new dimension. Will it be two lines of Kim
II and Kim III protracted from the same point or some form of triangle
(Isosceles? Right? Eqilateral?) of Kim I, Kim II and Kim III? Of course we
would expect Kim III to pay homage to Kim II and Kim I, but perhaps this
sets up the arena as to whether Kim III will (be perceived / promoted to)
carry on the lineage of Kim I better than his father, or whether two
factions develop, one more loyal to the first vs the second.

I would be interested to know how other members of this list project the
succession. 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/13/north-korea-punish-mourners-insince
re-kim-jong-il_n_1204377.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009
----------------
Lauren W. Deutsch
835 S. Lucerne Blvd., #103
Los Angeles CA 90005
Tel 323 930-2587  Cell 323 775-7454
E lwdeutsch at earthlink.net

From: Frank Hoffmann <hoffmann at koreaweb.ws>
Reply-To: Korean Studies Discussion List <koreanstudies at koreaweb.ws>
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:20:24 -0800
To: Korean Studies Discussion List <koreanstudies at koreaweb.ws>
Subject: Re: [KS] KCTV's hour-long paean to Kim Jong-un yesterday can now be
seen in full by all

The _Rodong sinmun_ is now also has an ENGLISH Web edition.
http://www.rodong.rep.kp/InterEn/
If that link doe snot work for you, then go to main site,
http://www.rodong.rep.kp/ and click on the ENGLISH tab (upper right) -- that
worked for me.
Articles there are also included in the customized Google search that I have
at
http://koreaweb.ws/13_news.html

The rhetoric, the language of leadership, seems to match the descriptions in
Orwell's _1984_ (yes, I think it is a quite appropriate reference, however
often it was already used): only the "Great Leaders" were allowed to invent
new phrases, to use language in a creative way ... and once father or son
Kim did, those phrases were then reduplicated down the ranks and enshrined.
The grandson's "accustomed to working all night" phrase was already invented
by Grandpa, and used by son Kim also:
Pyongyang, January 27, 2002 (KCNA):
"But he told them that he had become accustomed to working all night and he
would take a full rest when Korea joins the ranks of the most developed
countries in the world and the people are well off. He then said the day
would surely come and victory always belongs to the Korean people."
Those are all the same continuous patterns of the same oppressive machine
with all its sub-mechanisms. ... But you know what the destiny is of those
people who have all their pencils sharpened and lined up on their desk in
strict order: someone opens the window by accident, and ...

As Michael Rank said, a depressing experience. Better study Cuban communism,
so much more fun.

Best,
Frank

Alas, the words of wisdom are not as profound as one might hope. I humbly
offer a quick and rough translation:

"I am accustomed to working through the night and so am not bothered by it.
The most joyous and happiest moments for me are when I can bring joy to the
comrade supreme commander. Thus, though I have stayed up several nights, I
have worked without knowing weariness. Even when I work through several
nights, once I have brought joy to the comrade supreme commander, the
weariness vanishes and a new strength courses through my whole body. This
must be what revolutionaries live for."

-C. La Shure
On Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 4:11 AM, Michael Rank <rank at mailbox.co.uk> wrote:
I have heroically viewed the entire thing, and found it a deeply depressing
experience. One of the bizarre things about it is that it is in effect
silent, and we never hear the voices of the three geniuses. If they are so
brilliant why won't the govt let the people to hear them impart their wisdom
at first hand? I believe KJI's voice has only been heard a couple of times,
once during the Albright visit and once on an official tape, can anyone
confirm? But coming back to the above paean I noticed that it includes a
genuine (insofar as anything is genuine in DPRK) KJE (or KJU if you insist)
quote, at 22.04, his very first I think. Could anyone be so kind as to
translate his words of wisdom? For what it's worth I also spotted Supreme
People's Assembly head Choe Thae Bok at 33.51, he has visited UK twice.

Best wishes,
Michael Rank

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