Thursday, December 19, 2013

Republic of terror

While many countries are taking huge steps toward democracy across the the globe, North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un eliminated his paternal uncle Jang Song-thaek, publicly regarded as the second most powerful man in the totalitarian state.

The execution serves as a warning to oppositional fractions within North Korea: zero tolerance.

Sadly the world was powerless to stop such an act. Even the North Korea’s most important ally, China, refrained from punishing the young leader, although Chinese President Xi Jinping has clearly demonstrated displeasure with Kim for his insistence on continuing his nuclear program.

Kim’s execution of the husband of his aunt, Kim Kyong-hui, was a clear sign to the outside world that as the true leader of the impoverished state he could do whatever he wanted.

The young Kim treats North Korea as the property he has inherited from his father Kim Jong-il and terrorizes whoever tries to question his rule.

Kim Jong-il himself took over absolute power from his father Kim Il-sung, the republic’s founding father.

Even those who dislike Barack Obama’s administration would agree with Secretary of State John Kerry’s description of Kim’s brutality: “It tells us a lot about, first of all, how ruthless and reckless he is,” Kerry said during an ABC interview.

“It also tells us a lot about how insecure he is, to a certain degree,” Kerry told Reuters.

China needs to take harsher measures against the young North Korean leader, because at the end of the day the Asian giant will have to bear the brunt of Kim’s iron-fist regime. We can say that Pyongyang’s economy totally depends on China’s generosity.

Kim can no longer emulate his father’s extortion tactics in dealing with South Korea, Japan and the US.

Due to historical reasons, Indonesia could play an important role in persuading the North Korean leader to concentrate on economic development rather than pursuing its nuclear ambitions.

To be frank, it is an absurd hope because even a powerful country like China could do nothing to stop the North Korean ruler from inciting terror in his own people.

How long should the world allow the Kim regime to continue to put regional security and the safety of the North Korean people at risk? The Jakarta Post | Editorial |

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