A famine pimp great image.. But still think there is some evidence that he is short a few card from the deck.
Some say that those who would seize power after his death are worse, the hard core generals who have nothing to lose. Better this whole business ends quickly. I think Korea shows what happens when power is not applied correctly or in a limited way. hindsight is 20/20 but MacArthur may have been correct.

Kim Jong-il will never face retribution unless the Koreans dig up his corpse. Watching Hu Jintao and Kim Jong-il walk the red carpet together, I noticed that Hu strode confidently with squared shoulders while Kim just slouched along. KJI is reputed to be in poor health, and I would not be surprised if he died before the end of this decade. A quick coup will topple whichever son inherits the throne.

A united Korea frightens both japan and China. It would be a threat to japan and seen as a flashpoint for Chinese who do not want instability on their borders.
The malnutrition issue is a real one. Reports of stunted adults, mentally challenged people,due to starvation show the true horror of the Kim regime.
As much as I feel Bush and Co. have made many mistakes in the region standing firm against Kim and his gangsters should be appauled by the world. Japan and the North standing toe to toe with the North nuclear and the Japanese capable of nuclear weapons and the Chinese backing the North and the U.S. backing japan. Really, really scary when you think of the reports of Kims’ mental instability.
The South really has a schizophrenic viewpoint looking to the U.S. for protection but hating America for “interfering’ in their family feud. SAd that fiftyfive years after the war the U.S. is still stuck in Korea. Another attempt to save “democracy’

The rising expenditures won’t be for the military. The money will be used to upgrade public infrastructure and industrial development in the North. It is ironic that despite the differences of the participating countries in the six-party talks, it seems that they all share a common interest in delaying reunification as long as possible.

A third of whose populace will be stuck with the long-term effects of lifelong malnutrition.

The South is soft on the North because they will have to live with many of the norths thugs in the future, and hope to make the transition smoother.

Given the South’s history of persecutiong out-of-favor politicians on its own side, I don’t think Kim’s men have much of a chance in a united Korea.

There is a lot of talk about whether the US would remain in Korea after reunification. Given South Korea’s Sunshine policy of propping up the NK regime with food and energy while stifling any domestic criticism, I am pessimistic about reunification in the near future. The US does not need to wait for reunification. It can leave anytime. South Korea is quite capable of defending itself and doesn’t need to worry about tanks rolling across the DMZ since the two Koreas are so chummy these days.

Hopefully, we will pass through this emerging reorganization of power as peacefully as possible. Admittedly the US wants to remain dominate, but a close secondary goal is to remain part of the equation in the center of the rising powers for the next centuries. (i.e. if we can’t solely be on top, we’d like to remain rich)

Korea has come out of the cold war mentality against the North, or vs China. You really cannot blame them for this.

having said that, it will continue to be cautious and suspicious of the large neighbor China.

I think it’s pretty clear what the ROK is thinking, and the second paragraph in the second blockquote captures it nicely. They see China as a rising regional power and the key to their long-range future. Getting an earlier start on building a good relationship is something that makes sense to them. The other big incentive for them is Chinese influence over the DPRK; personally, I think the ROK’s China position only makes sense if China is going to help them manage the Kim regime through its eventual downfall, including ensuring that the ROK doessn’t get attacked. Until the Kim regime falls and/or the U.S. withdraws from the region, the ROK will keep the U.S. security relationship alive, but I don’t expect that relationship to survive much past the death of North Korea.

It’s also on the agenda of the (influential business lobby) Nippon Keidanren’s Vision 2025 policy”

Aso’s Defining Japan speech is historic and deserves close attention. He admits that Japan has its problems but insists that it is still the “leader” and “stabilizer” of the region where it counts. The way I see it, Japan has always seen East Asia as its backyard, so a regionally integrated Asia with Japan as its leader is just a peaceful way to pull off the “Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere” that had been the pre-war dream of Japan.

The way I see it, the ROK would be shooting itself in the foot by alienating Japan and the US and getting closer to China. I have no idea what they are thinking.

I interpreted the article as suggesting that both Beijing’s refusal to hold the usual side meeting at ASEAN, and its stong role in the EAS are simply means by which it hopes to increase its influence in the region. As for China’s terms in the EAS, its clout is unquestionably greater in a room that does not include the United States.