North Korean leader Kim Jong Un claps during a celebration for nuclear scientists and engineers who contributed to a hydrogen bomb test, September 2017. KCNA via REUTERS
ABC News Online: Former South Korean general warns West about removing North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un
"I caution the Western world that this dictatorship is different," says In-Bum Chun, the former South Korean lieutenant-general who warns that removing Kim Jong-un would be like "trying to get rid of Allah" from the Middle East.
"It will be very difficult. All dictatorships are paranoid because of their, inertial fault in their system.
Retired lieutenant-general Chun is one of South Korea's most ambitious and experienced military men who served in the Republic of Korea Army for nearly 40 years — including a period as leader of the country's special forces — before retiring about 18 months ago. He provided Korean-English language support to the commander in chief on numerous occasions and was awarded the US Army Commendation Medal by General RisCassi in 1992.
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WNU Editor: His comments and analysis on how powerful the Kim family's cult of personality has on North Korea is spot on. If done over a period of time through propaganda and indoctrination .... coupled with threats and punishment .... the population will be cowed and resistant to change. I have seen it first hand in the former Soviet Union among those who idolized Stalin, and in China among those who idolized Mao. As for North Korea .... I only met their diplomats when I was working at the U.N. (ICAO), and that was quite a sight to see. With the exception of the ambassador who had a degree of autonomy .... everyone else always stayed together like a cult. They all dressed the same, they never talked to anyone outside of their circle, and they all had a pin with the face of their leader on their lapel (which at that time was Kim Il-sung). They were even afraid to look at you, and when they did, it was over in a second. This even permeates the top leadership of North Korea, and today's visit by the North Korean leader's sister was very revealing. If you look at the videos of her at today's opening ceremony at the Olympics .... she made sure that she would not even be caught looking at Vice President Pence and Japanese PM Abe, let alone acknowledging their presence. This was all done on purpose .... which was to show the Kim family to be above everyone else.
