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[Sheb]

Hardly surprising, it's pretty similar to the kind of huge boost in agricultural productions China experienced after giving up on communal farms. I'm surprised I didn't hear anything about it. Do you think it could herald further economic liberalization on the Chinese model?

[Guardian G.I.]

Hardly surprising, it's pretty similar to the kind of huge boost in agricultural productions China experienced after giving up on communal farms. I'm surprised I didn't hear anything about it. Do you think it could herald further economic liberalization on the Chinese model?

According to Lankov, the North Korean government is very cautious about reforms because it fears it could bring about the spread of anti-government sentiment. Many people are already angry at the constant rise of the income gap between the rich and the poor - that's why the older people are nostalgic for the time when Kim il-Sung was in charge. I posted an article here about it before.
As Lankov said several years ago: "For the North Korean government, not starting reforms is awaiting their demise, starting reforms is bringing forward their demise"

[olemars]

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2014/10/10/0200000000AEN20141010007751315.html

SEOUL, Oct. 10 (Yonhap) -- The two Koreas exchanged fire across their tense border Friday, Seoul's military said, after the North launched shots toward balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets floated by South Korean civic activists.

South Korean military officials said some of the North Korean shots landed south of the border, prompting the South's military to fire back in response.

Seems pretty tense these days. There was an incident between two navy ships not long ago too, around the same time some NK brass made a surprise visit to the south to restart talks.

[smjjames]

There was an important (for NK) holiday that Kim normally shows up for, does anybody know if he showed up or is still AWOL?

[timferius]

There was an important (for NK) holiday that Kim normally shows up for, does anybody know if he showed up or is still AWOL?

Just read in the paper he was a no show. I'll dig up a non-paywalled link.

Edit: There we go Courtesy of the CBC

[Darvi]

Damn, I was hoping that they'd have done a Weekend at Bernie's style puppet show with Dear Leader's body.

[RedKing]

There is speculation (founded on not much) that China may be involved somehow, in the context of "reining in" an unruly client state.

[MonkeyHead]

What about a third option: Kim Jong Un has been a puppet of the ruling elite/military of NK for some time and suddenly is refusing to co-operate?

[smjjames]

What about a third option: Kim Jong Un has been a puppet of the ruling elite/military of NK for some time and suddenly is refusing to co-operate?

Wouldn't we have seen signs of that? Also, his sister (forget her name) is handling some stuff now apparently. Plus didn't he pretty much upend the top command structures a while ago?

There is speculation (founded on not much) that China may be involved somehow, in the context of "reining in" an unruly client state.

I was kind of under the impression that they have gotten fed up with it, about the only thing keeping them from completely severing ties is the fear of having to deal with potentially millions of refugees fleeing over the border when NK collapses.

[RedKing]

There is speculation (founded on not much) that China may be involved somehow, in the context of "reining in" an unruly client state.

I was kind of under the impression that they have gotten fed up with it, about the only thing keeping them from completely severing ties is the fear of having to deal with potentially millions of refugees fleeing over the border when NK collapses.

Which is why they may have stepped in if they were aware of a brewing problem in the NK upper echelon. Can't have a potentially destabilizing civil war/coup if Glorious Leader is already replaced. Although it's odd that there's been absolutely no troop movements out of the ordinary, and no nervous propaganda announcements. Whatever's happening, the ruling clique seem to be perfectly fine with the situation.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

I completely disbelieve the idea that China has any real control over NK's internal politics. NK is a bad ally to China, but they aren't a client state any more than Mexico is a client state to the US, and Mexico lacks the totalitarian political system that NK uses to manage things.

[Loud Whispers]

I completely disbelieve the idea that China has any real control over NK's internal politics. NK is a bad ally to China, but they aren't a client state any more than Mexico is a client state to the US, and Mexico lacks the totalitarian political system that NK uses to manage things.

China had some real control on NK's internal politics right up until KJU's uncle was annihilated via artillery barrage.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

I completely disbelieve the idea that China has any real control over NK's internal politics. NK is a bad ally to China, but they aren't a client state any more than Mexico is a client state to the US, and Mexico lacks the totalitarian political system that NK uses to manage things.

China had some real control on NK's internal politics right up until KJU's uncle was annihilated via artillery barrage.

I'll give you that he was definitely Pro-China and Bejing's man of the hour in Pyongyang, but that still wasn't a puppet-style relationship.

[nenjin]

You can all relax. Stories of the Dear Leader's retirement/deposing/death/full mechanization were greatly exaggerated. Or so NK media is claiming.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/13/world/asia/north-korea-kim-jong-un/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

[smjjames]

Okay, so I guess he had some sort of leg injury? But even if it WERE a leg injury, that wouldn't stop him from showing in public, bad legs didn't stop FDR.