Proven correct about DPR Korea

Ah, the satisfaction. In the past couple of days, some of my predictions and observances about North Korea have been proven. First, the long-awaited and highly-speculated 3rd Party Conference of the ruling Korean Workers Party, which was first announced for the beginning of September, has been delayed due to flooding that affected northern regions of the country bordering China. This is something I said would be the reason for the delay last week. Since then, agenda-ridden North Korean 'watchers' have scoffed this 'excuse', dismissing it as a smokescreen for outlandish treachery of some unproven and purely speculative behind-the-scenes jostling between power sources. It makes you wonder whether these 'watchers' are living in reality, as a significant and possibly nation-changing event such as this Party Conference so soon after the devastation of fatal floods and typhoons (some 'watchers' dismissed the floods as being 'average' - I don't see anything 'average' when a flood kills people) would be akin to a major celebration being held just days after Hurricane Katrina devastating New Orleans in 2005.

After some speculation (yet again, quickly then accepted as 'fact') that the Conference has been delayed until October to coincide with the anniversary of the founding of the Korean Workers Party 65 years ago, Pyongyang TV announced yesterday that the conference is going ahead on the 28th September. So there!

But wait, there's more. Another item of speculation about North Korea accepted as fact by the West has yet again been proven wrong (so far). Jimmy Carter himself, who was in North Korea last month to secure the release of an idiot who waltzed his way into the country and, not surprisingly, into jail, wrote that the Chinese say that all talk of a hereditary succession involving the youngest known son of Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-un, is false Western lie. This has led one blogger on a website devoted to DPR Korea, appeal to North Korean 'watchers' to 'cease and desist regarding Jang Song Taek as the DPRK’s jamba-suited Falstaff'. Jang, 64, who happens to be Kim Jong-il's brother-in-law and a very experienced politician, became the second most powerful person in DPR Korea when he was elevated to second-in-command of the all-powerful North Korean 'National Security Council'. By all accounts, and with a little common sense, he seems more likely to become the next leader of DPR Korea, much before any Confucian-style hereditary change occurs.

The one point I constantly stress about North Korea is that no matter what, the West has much idea of what is happening in this secretive country. However, finally, in a US senate panel meeting, Kurt Campbell, Assistant Secretary of State, East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said "in fundamental ways, North Korea is still a black box. We have some glimpses and some intelligence and the like, but the truth is often times in retrospect some of that intelligence has proven to be wrong." In other words, they have no idea. Just what I have been saying all along. When Campbell was later asked by former presidential candidate John McCain about Kim Jong-un's suspected accession, Campbell replied with 'your guess is as good as ours'. That pretty much sums it up.