...hereditary Communist monarchy distinguished by its truculence and periodic acts of violence. Distinguishing features include Songun (Army First) policy, which involves feeding the army before anyone but the Dear Leadership, and Juche, which is Kim Jong Il's personal interpretation of Marxism-Leninism, which he told everybody was brilliant. In 1950 the industrialized North invaded agrarian South Korea. Twenty-one countries of the United Nations eventually contributed to the UN force opposing the invasion, with the United States providing around 90% of the military personnel. Seventy years later the economic results are in and it doesn't look good for Juche...n leader Kim
PudgeJong-un
...the overweight, pouty-looking hereditary potentate of North Korea. Pudge appears to believe in his own divinity, but has yet to produce any loaves and fishes, so his subjects remain malnourished...
has ordered the rapid deployment of new warships and the expansion of the country’s underwater military capabilities ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to Pyongyang, according to a Rooters report.
Rooters reported on Saturday that North Korea is seeking to strengthen its naval forces, including plans involving a 10,000-ton destroyer and the accelerated preparation of the destroyer Kang Kon, alongside another 5,000-ton warship.
The report said Kim recently supervised a naval exercise and used the occasion to stress the need for stronger maritime capabilities, arguing that North Korea must enhance its naval deterrence to prevent the risk of nuclear conflict.
Kim also called for further expansion of the country’s nuclear arsenal, continuing a policy that has placed nuclear and missile development at the center of North Korea’s defense strategy.
According to Rooters, North Korea last year acknowledged that a 5,000-ton destroyer partially capsized during a launch ceremony at the port of Chongjin, an incident that drew rare public criticism from Kim and highlighted challenges facing the country’s naval modernization efforts.
The military developments come shortly before Xi is scheduled to arrive in Pyongyang on Monday for a two-day state visit, his first trip to North Korea since 2019. Chinese officials have said Xi will hold talks with Kim on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest as Beijing seeks to deepen ties with its longtime ally.
Xi’s visit is widely viewed as a significant diplomatic event for both countries. The trip follows a period of reduced high-level engagement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and comes as China seeks to reassert its influence in North Korea amid Pyongyang’s growing military and political cooperation with Russia.
China remains North Korea’s largest trading partner and most important economic supporter. Despite international sanctions imposed over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, Beijing has continued to play a critical role in sustaining economic links with its neighbor and promoting stability on the Korean Peninsula.
North Korea’s push to strengthen its naval forces reflects a broader military modernization campaign that includes the development of nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, submarines and strategic deterrence systems. In recent years, Kim has repeatedly pledged to expand the country’s military capabilities despite international pressure and sanctions.