Recently, Kim Jong Un failed to attend the Kumsusan Palace on April 15 to celebrate the birthday of Kim’s grandfather. This led to widespread speculation of Kim’s health because he had undergone heart surgery on April 12. Rumors from inside North Korea say he is in critical condition resulting from complications during the surgery. Kim’s death could destabilize the region because as far as the US knows he has no known named heir. His sister Kim Yo-jung is likely to take the reigns of the Kim dynasty if Kim Jong Un dies because the country has been run by the Kims for almost seventy years. Foreign countries may militarize the area and a power struggle is likely to occur. China has dismissed the rumours but South Korea is skeptical. American Intelligence all but confirms that Kim Jong Un is in critical condition. A war between North and South Korea is a possibility, as well as a new faction taking control of North Korea and ending the Kim Dynasty. Moreover, a general could possibly take over because of the military power North Korea has. All in all, many changes are possible if Kim Jong Un dies, one being a peaceful transition of power, the other being a multinational power struggle in a heavily armed region of the world. Learn more by reading this article.
1) Do you think the USA should get involved if Kim dies? If so, how?
2) Do you think a transition of power will be peaceful or violent?
3) If you thought the leader of your country was equal to a god (As many North Korean citizens do), and found out he was in dire medical condition, how would you react? Would your position in the government influence how you feel?
4) When a person important to your life is sick, when is it important to start planning for the future?
1. I think that if Kim Jong Un's sister does take over and there is no major outbreak of violence, internally or foreign threats, than I think that the U.S. should not get involved. The U.S. getting involved could potentially cause some unnecessary complications, especially if there is no reason to become involved. However, if there is a fight for power then I think there are two possibilities. The first is that the people of North Korea start an uprising. Because that is an internal affair I believe that the ethical action to take is to stay out of it. The second possibility is that another country tries to take advantage of the weakened government and attempts to take it over. If this is the case then I believe that the U.S. should get involved because of two reasons. The first being that a war could lead to a world war, and the second to maintain healthy relations with North Korea.
ReplyDelete2. The governmental transition could be either peaceful or violent, however I believe that because the North Korean Government is so strict any sort of uprising or riot will be put down before it can pick up speed. The Kim's have stayed in power for so long because of the way they rule. If the Government transitions leaders as they have done in the past than there should not be any chances for violence.
3. I would feel offended and worried at the same time. If I thought that the president of the United States was a god and found out that he/she was deathly ill I would be worried for the president and offended that the government/leader lied to me. I would After the president died I might be more angry and distrustful towards the government.
4. I believe that when it comes to loved ones being ill it is dangerous for the other people that you affect. Thankfully I have not had to go through something like that, but if I were to put myself in that situation I would either do start planning when things were truly hopeless, or I would start when the doctor told me to.
1, I do not think that the US. should get involved if Kim dies. The only case where the U.S. should intervene is if there is any direct threat to the American people. Furthermore, if there is not an adequate amount of evidence the U.S. shall not intervene.
ReplyDelete2, I believe that the transition, if Kim does die would be fairly peaceful, the immense amount of power the family holds in the kingdom is certainly impossible to mount a revolution on. Especially, when you realize most of the citizens are poor and famished.
3, IF I thought the leader of my country was equal to a god (emphasis on if), and he was found in dire condition. I would feel very sad, like someone you worship might die. If I had the potential to become a ruler of the country if someone I thought was a god was going to die, I would still be sad but I would also see it as an opportunity if I could become the leader of the country.
4, I agree with Henry on this question, when you start planning for the future when someone is still alive it drains all the hope away from that person You are basically excepting their fate as death, which is not good. So that is why I believe that you shouldn't start planning unless it is absolutely necessary.
1. I agree with Leo that the U.S. should not get involved if Kim does die. Interfering with North Korea's issues will only pose a threat to the U.S. If there is no specific reason the U.S. would directly interfere with there is no reason they should get involved.
ReplyDelete2. I believe that the power transfer could go either way. If Kim's sister does take over, likely, there will not be issues surrounding power, due to the Kims having such power in North Korea for decades. However, if Kim does die and issues of who holds power do begin to rise, those issues could likely become violent.
3. If I felt as though the leader of my country was, what I thought equal to god than find out they could be on the verge of death would likely overwhelm as well as anger me. To admire someone so much as to believe that they are a "God tier" human, then find out they are not as strong as I believed would largely impact my view of them and what I had previously believed.1. I agree with Leo that the U.S. should not get involved if Kim does die. Interfering with North Korea's issues will only pose a threat to the U.S. If there is no specific reason the U.S. would directly interfere with there is no reason they should get involved.
4. I agree with Leo and Henry that planning for the loss of someone you love and admire is a hard task to take on. No matter how much you prepare yourself, there is no telling how you will truly feel/react until you those that person.
1) Do you think the USA should get involved if Kim dies? If so, how?
ReplyDeleteThe united states should not get involved unless there is a military strike which impacts more than just north Korea. Otherwise, we should not get involved because it could start a huge war between us or the entire world. In addition, we have no reason to get involved in this situtation.
2) Do you think a transition of power will be peaceful or violent?
I think this is going to be violent because the new leader would want to show his/her dominance over other countries. This meaning, that they would bomb certain places or just shoot nuclear bombs into the ocean. In addition, other countries might overreact to this making everything a bit more crazy and violent.
3) If you thought the leader of your country was equal to a god (As many North Korean citizens do), and found out he was in dire medical condition, how would you react? Would your position in the government influence how you feel?
If I was a citizen in north Korea, I would be scared because the new leader may inflict more torture on the citizens.. Although if I worshipped him as a god, i would be sad because its your god died which is depressing an sad. In addition, I wouldn't be surprised if there was huge parades about kim-jung-un to show their loyalty to their leader.
4) When a person important to your life is sick, when is it important to start planning for the future?
Depending on the severity of the sickness, it depends on when you should start planning. If someone is diagnosed with a curable sickness it is important to plan for the person to get healthy however, If someone is is terminally ill then I would plan for there well-being for the rest of the time they are alive.
1) The US should not get involved if Kim Jong Un dies because it would not benefit our country to become tangled up in the leadership of North Korea. I agree with Henry that if Kim Jong Un’s sister succeeds him and if under her rule, North Korea doesn’t become more of a threat to the US, then there is no point getting involved. If our country was like North Korea, then it would create a lot of tension if our leader died and then another country butted in and tried to appoint a new leader. If the United States became involved with this, then it could easily strain our relationship with North Korea even more than it already is, and at the moment, we do not need anymore problems.
ReplyDelete2) It all matters about how people see Kim Jong Un’s sister. If she is widely viewed as the rightful leader if Kim Jong Un dies, then the transition of power will probably be peaceful because people then wouldn’t challenge her leadership. However, if she is not, then other people might try to seize control and that could easily turn violent.
3) If I actually respected the leader of my country and viewed him/her as a god, then I would feel a lot of loyalty towards that individual and the fact that s/he was in dire medical condition would be very worrying. I would want him/her to have the best medical treatment possible so s/he could recover quickly. However, if I had a position in the government and I wanted my leader’s position, then this could be my chance to try and take control of the country.
4) I think it’s important to start planning for the future as soon as you learn that someone you love is sick. Plans need to be made for a treatment to help that person and you also need to figure out what will happen if your loved one passes away.
1. The United States should not get involved if Kim Jong Un dies, because there is no point in dragging ourselves into a mess, if it doesn’t affect us in the first place. With Covid-19 on our hands, it makes it much risker anyway, and not a good idea. However, I do agree with Thomas’ statement, that if this feud for power in North Korea spreads elsewhere (the U.S. for example) then we should definitely take action.
ReplyDelete2. A transition of power will most definitely be violent, as it will cause a shift to the way things are. And with Covid around, this change will be very hard to adapt to. The only “easier” and smoother outcome is Jong Un’s sister taking over control. This is most likely to happen, because their family dynasty has been running the country for close to a century.
3. If I were a loyal North Korean citizen, and thought like one, I would be very frightened at the possibility of my leader dying. There would not be much physical action I could do to help, but I would probably try to help verbally if anything. Position in government has a big impact on any departure of his. If I was a general that was very close to him, I might be more devastated than, maybe one of his palace servants. And if I had not been close to him at all and not liked him or any of his ancestors who ruled, then his death would be a dream to me.
4. The intensity of the sickness certainly influences the time to plan for upcoming times. If the person’s life is in grave danger and death seems nearby, then future planning should begin immediately. On the other hand, if it is a mendable sickness, then more time should be spent on making the person feel loved and reassured that everything will be okay.
1. The United States should not get involved if Kim Jong Un dies. As Maddie said, interfering with the leadership of North Korea offers no specific benefit to the United States. The only circumstance in which the United States should interfere is if the Leadership of North Korea directly affects the United States.
ReplyDelete2. The transition power if Kim dies will be relatively peaceful. North Korea has been run by the Kims for almost seventy years, therefore making it likely that the people of North Korea will accept it if Kim Yo-Jung is the new leader. However, if the transition of power is not peaceful, I believe that punishment will be immediately instituted among those who are unhappy with the new leader.
3. If I idolized and respected the leader of my country and found out he was dying I would feel great pain and anger. It would take me time to come to terms with the disturbing news, but I would want him to have the best medical care to ensure the greatest chance of survival. My position in government could potentially affect my sadness. If I worked very closely with the leader of my country I would feel more despair then if I rarely/ had never interacting with him.
4. When a loved one is sick, although it may be challenging to come to terms with the circumstances, it is crucial to start planning for the future. Even if the sickness will not result in death, it is still important to figure out how to accommodate their new needs into day to day life.
1) I agree with Jemma, if Kim Jong Un dies the US should not get involved. If North Korea threatens military action against the US or its allies and there is imminent danger then this might be a reason to intervene. Another possible reason for the US to be involved is a violent power struggle or even a civil war. While this is unlikely it is possible and could be very bloody with all of the power at stake. In conclusion unless a large group of people face physical harm the US should do whatever it can to avoid getting involved.
ReplyDelete2) I predict that the transition is likely to be violent in some way unless Kim chooses a clear successor. I don’t believe a full civil war will take place but attempted assassinations of political rivals and other targeted operations are not that far fetched. With complete power over an entire nation at stake and the opportunity to change the future of North Korea forever, different political contenders with opposing viewpoints will be ruthless to secure their power and vision.
3) If I was a North Korean citizen and I believed my leader was a god, and was dying I would be scared for my country and my safety in addition to being particularly susceptible to propaganda about the cause of the death. North Korean citizens are taught from a young age that their Supreme Leader is a god and is so powerful that they control the weather. If I believed this and heard that such a powerful figure had died I would be concerned for my safety. I would also blindly believe any made of cause of death. The Government will likely find someone to blame and rather than admitting that the all powerful Supreme Leader died of common heart failure, and that this was a result of a failed surgery done by the best doctors in the country. The obvious country to blame is the US or Japan and we will likely hear some far-fetched story that it was the US or another country's fault.
4) I have never had anyone who is very close to me become seriously sick, which I am very thankful for.
1. If Kim dies, I do not think the US should get involved. I agree with Henry that unless violence occurs or it is a threat to America, then there is no reason to. By getting involved, it could make the situation worse and more complicated. It would be illogical and unnecessary to get involved and possibly pose a threat to the US.
ReplyDelete2. I think that the transition of power will be mostly peaceful since the family is very powerful and would be hard to uprise against. If the majority of people like his sister then there would be no reason for this change of power to be anything but peaceful. However, if there is controversy, then problems may occur.
3. I would be very worried and sad if a leader who I admired and thought was equal to a God was sick. I would be upset because I wouldn't know what to do and angry that people told me this when it, in fact, was not true. Nonetheless, I would want them to get better if I did in fact respect and like the person.
4. When a loved one becomes sick, it is often dangerous and difficult to take important life decisions since you are still grieving. Although it's important to look ahead in the future after this person passes away, that can be very difficult and unfair to ask of someone going through that. However, it ultimately becomes necessary to plan for the future and what happens next.
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ReplyDelete1) I don’t think the USA is in the place get involved with North Korea of Kim dies especially since the two counties don’t have an alliance. If Kim dies it would be good to wish that the North Korea government improves, but I don’t believe that America can to anything safe to make this happen.
ReplyDelete2) I think if the power goes to Kim’s sister, the transition wouldn’t be that peaceful due to the fact that she is a woman and Korea hasn’t had a women leader before.
3) I probably wouldn’t consider a leader as a god but if I though high of that person and they were near death, I’d definitely feel very sad and disappointed that no one would be able to lead as good as that certain leader. I agree with Leo that if the people I lead thought of me as a god and I was sick, I would feel sad as if I was letting everyone down and causing people pain.
4) If someone in my life is really sick I think its important to be aware of the worst outcome as soon as that person seems to be too sick in order to have time to plan for what will happen next.
1. I disagree with everyone else because it is imperative that the United States stages some sort of intervention in North Korea if Kim Jong-Un dies and there is a power vacuum so democracy and peaceful rule can be restored. For 70 years, North Korea has been ruled by the iron fist of the Kim family, and the US must take this opportunity (if Kim is truly dead) to intervene and set up a democracy. Additionally, a US intervention could result in the destruction of North Korea's nuclear arsenal, neutralizing the threat that the Kim family posed to global peace.
ReplyDelete2. The transition will be violent because Kim Jong-Un has not decided on a successor, and he has no children that would take up the mantle to rule the country. In 2011, after Jong-Un ascended to power, he engaged in massive purges of his political opponents and older leaders and generals who he thought may have threatened his legitimacy. His sister will almost certainly have to do the same or even more because she is a woman, so her right to power will be questioned by more people. And if his sister doesn't take power, there will be a civil war, and millions will suffer so either way it will be bloody.
3. I would feel terribly worried and concerned because in North Korea, Kim Jong-Un has a cult of personality because North Korean media and propaganda has told the entire country for a decade that he is a supreme being. If I had been brainwashed by that propaganda I would be incredibly mournful that my God had died, because the propaganda had made him seem both a God and someone that I knew.
4. It's important to start planning for the future before someone is sick, but if they are sick, I agree with Blien that one needs to prepare for the worst possible outcome so that everyone can be prepared for what might happen.
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ReplyDeleteDo you think the USA should get involved if Kim dies? If so, how?
ReplyDeleteI do not think that the US should get involved but try to peacefully try to work things out with the new leader because if the US tries to take it by force thousands of soldiers and civilians could die.
2) Do you think a transition of power will be peaceful or violent?
I think that the transition will be peaceful if the US does not get involved and try to take North Korea but if everything stays the way they are I do not think there will be an issue with Kim's sister taking over.
3) If you thought the leader of your country was equal to a god (As many North Korean citizens do), and found out he was in dire medical condition, how would you react? Would your position in the government influence how you feel?
I think that I would start to doubt the government but knowing the propaganda filled country that North Korea is they will probably make up some lie about it.
4) When a person important to your life is sick, when is it important to start planning for the future?
I think when you knew that the end is coming people in the family should start planning affairs accordingly. There is no disrespect to the person who is dying but there are many stages to handling a person will and other need like funerals and should be handled in a timely fashion.
1) I do not think that the US should get involved if Kim Jong Un dies. I agree with Leo, that if the US isn’t directly affected by Kim Jong Un's death, we shouldn’t get involved. If there isn't a specific reason for the US to interfere, they shouldn’t because it might complicate ties with other foreign countries and might complicate things for both sides.
ReplyDelete2) I think that it could go either way. You mentioned that there might be somewhat of a struggle for power and that that could change the government. If his sister does rise to power, I think it’ll be peaceful because she is next in line for “reign.” On the other hand, it’s obvious that North Korea has a lot of power, and so if the government is struggling, that could cause conflict.
3) I would be nervous and worried if I learned that my leader was ill. The majority of people depend on that one person to control society and I think that rumors of a fall of power would definitely affect me. That is the person that I’d be relying on, and if they’re sick then that could complicate things for everyone.
4) Planning for the loss of someone close to you/you admire seems like a very difficult thing. I haven’t lost anyone close to me, but my dad had cancer and during that period of time I was always worried for him. I can’t imagine what it would be like to suspect that someone close to you would pass away. Luckily, my dad is fine now because he could get proper medical treatment, but the experience has definitely made our whole family more aware of supporting one another. Although it is difficult, I do think that it's important to plan ahead depending on the severity of the illness.
1. I agree with Ethan I don't think the US should get involved because this can lead to several problems including the war and we do not need anymore problems especially during this time. I think it would be good if the US intervened to bring a democracy back to North Korea but it just doesn't make sense to intervene when the economy is struggling enough already.
ReplyDelete2. I disagree with Ethan I think the transition will be violent because although most of the population consider Kim Jong-Un a god a smaller part of the population likely believes that this political party is not a good one and that if Kim Jong-Un is out of the picture they can form a democracy so I think if Kim dies there will be a revolt and how does a government respond to violence... with violence.
3.If Kim were dying and I considered him a god I would definitely be worried and sad because it would feel close to home. Also I would think that in some way it would seem like the end of the world because if someone so powerful and in my eyes a god wouldn't I be even more vulnerable than this man which is obviously not true but I think that in the eyes of this person it must feel like this.
4. When someone important to me is sick I think it's important to plan for the future when you know there is no way to help them and you know they are going to die.