Name? Kim Jong-un
Westphalian identity? North Korean
Age? 36
Why is he in the news? He’s back! The North Korean Supreme Leader went missing for 20 days after not appearing at a ceremony celebrating his grandfather, but has reappeared at the opening ceremony of a fertilizer plant. The world speculated that Kim had died during a botched heart surgery, then speculated he was in a coma or vegitative state, and then couldn’t help but speculate, who is next after Kim? His younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, gained some fans from this news cycle.
Why do we care? Should Kim die, leaving no clear successor, a huge humanitarian crisis could occur in North Korea. In a patriarchal line of succession, his sister would face some challenges if left to assume power. Powerful generals, who may have access to nuclear warheads, could also vie for the position of Supreme Leader. Either way, we prefer to avoid any form of conflict that could involve nuclear warheads.
Why should you care? While it’s fun to speculate who would take over after Kim, uncertainty in succession could lead to some bloodshed. The North Korean people, who already live in dismal conditions, would face the brunt of such conflict. That means 25 million people’s lives are put in danger.
Who else cares? *surrounding nations all collectively exhale* Japan, South Korea, and China would likely have to intervene should North Korea destabilize due to a power struggle. If nuclear weapons entered the equation, weapons that endanger not only North Korea and the surrounding nations, but the whole world, collective global action would need to be taken.
Any further comments? Kim Jong-un, who requires heart surgery at the age of 36, doesn’t represent the pinnacle of health. It’s hard to know what the future holds for North Korea, but it’s harder to say Kim will enjoy a long and healthy life judging from recent events. The global community can only hope that whoever takes power next in North Korea, it doesn’t involve the detonation of a nuclear bomb.
