N. Korean leader Kim Jong Il dies • Hacker News Board

Re: N. Korean leader Kim Jong Il dies

#41

Post by blhack » Mon, Dec 19, 2011, 3:46 AM UTC

Murkin wrote: post #27

Talk about good timing. With the political climate of change in afrika and middle east, this might be a great reason for the goverment to tear itself apart as various factions try to take over 'in the name of the people' We do live in exciting times

He's been grooming Kim Jong Un (his son) for quite a while now.

Re: N. Korean leader Kim Jong Il dies

#42

Post by willchang » Mon, Dec 19, 2011, 3:47 AM UTC

andrewfelix wrote: post #5

"died on Saturday of physical and mental over-work." His propaganda machine is still alive and well.

This is something of a trope. In Imperial China the death of an emperor was often ascribed to "積勞成疾", which literally translates to "illness from accumulated labor".

Re: N. Korean leader Kim Jong Il dies

#43

Post by diamondhead » Mon, Dec 19, 2011, 3:48 AM UTC

[deleted] wrote: post #16

[deleted]

☑ Kim Jong Il ☑ Khaddafi ☑ Osama Bin Laden ☑ Saddam Hussein ☐ Internet Explorer ☐ George W. Bush ☐ Condoleezza Rice ☐ Tony Blair

Re: N. Korean leader Kim Jong Il dies

#44

Post by ericd » Mon, Dec 19, 2011, 3:48 AM UTC

blntechie wrote: post #33

[deleted] wrote: post #16

[deleted]

Honestly I find it in a bad taste. Also, there is nothing to ashame about using IE especially IE9. It's truly a decent enough browser.

IE6/7 have left so many mental scars on developers over the years that I think "IE" will evoke those two for developers for many years after it stops being objectively worse.

Re: N. Korean leader Kim Jong Il dies

#45

Post by kposehn » Mon, Dec 19, 2011, 3:49 AM UTC

zmanji wrote: post #14

I wonder if his son's violent statements toward SK will turn into violent actions.

North Korea is very skilled at manipulating world opinion to seem like a rogue state. They know very well that their existence depends on never taking action, no matter what they say.

Think of them like a crazy family member that keeps in trouble unless people pony up cash and you pretty much have their entire strategy in a nutshell.

Re: N. Korean leader Kim Jong Il dies

#46

Post by zeruch » Mon, Dec 19, 2011, 3:49 AM UTC

The surface will probably be quiet for a bit, while the internal political machine of the DPRK roils. There are certainly a lot of possibilities (both good or bad) that can happen depending on who actually takes over control. Even if the regime collapsed non-violently, the ensuing chaotic human crisis would still be immense. My belief is that it will continue largely unchanged for the short to mid term.

Re: N. Korean leader Kim Jong Il dies

#47

Post by robryan » Mon, Dec 19, 2011, 3:51 AM UTC

diamondhead wrote: post #15

Another article that shows HN turned into a regular American newspaper.

Hardly, HN only covers world events with real global significance. I enjoy reading HN users takes on this kind of news as I find it interesting to discuss this kind of news but comments on mainstream news sites are terrible and I don't really have the time to invest in other sites with quality comments who cover this stuff in far higher volume.

Re: N. Korean leader Kim Jong Il dies

#48

Post by samstave » Mon, Dec 19, 2011, 3:51 AM UTC

zmanji wrote: post #14

I wonder if his son's violent statements toward SK will turn into violent actions.

Not for at least 20+ years.

His son is about to achieve one of the last great overt dictatorships in the world.

I bet everything he is going to want to taste that power for a long time before he actually does something aggressive.

That is not to say he doesnt press his luck, make a strategic failure and gets attacked (e.g. not accepting a rothschild-backed central bank)

Re: N. Korean leader Kim Jong Il dies

#49

Post by nekojima » Mon, Dec 19, 2011, 3:54 AM UTC

blhack wrote: post #41

Murkin wrote: post #27

Talk about good timing. With the political climate of change in afrika and middle east, this might be a great reason for the goverment to tear itself apart as various factions try to take over 'in the name of the people' We do live in exciting times

He's been grooming Kim Jong Un (his son) for quite a while now.

Kim Il Sung was his father.

Kim Jong Il's son Kim Jong Un is the annotated successor, though will be a puppet for a while, if he survives the next few days and weeks.

Re: N. Korean leader Kim Jong Il dies

#50

Post by hartror » Mon, Dec 19, 2011, 3:57 AM UTC

robryan wrote: post #47

diamondhead wrote: post #15

Another article that shows HN turned into a regular American newspaper.

Hardly, HN only covers world events with real global significance. I enjoy reading HN users takes on this kind of news as I find it interesting to discuss this kind of news but comments on mainstream news sites are terrible and I don't really have the time to invest in other sites with quality comments who cover this stuff in far higher volume.

Agreed, the tone and community here provide interesting discussion and insights on the really big turning points such as these. Comparably on reddit there is a lot of chaff to work through to get to the interesting kernels.