Foreign Affairs: Coronavirus threatens Kim Jong-un's power

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The North Korean regime is facing the biggest test of Kim Jong-un’s rule, writes Foreign Affairs. This is an outbreak of coronavirus, as well as its consequences.

Currently, the DPRK is located between two large outbreaks of the epidemic - China and South Korea. Although Pyongyang closed the borders with China, this does not give him a full guarantee against the spread of the disease. In addition, the Celestial Empire was an important partner for the DPRK, and the termination of trade with it instantly raised the price of many goods.



North Korean economy, largely working on small-scale private enterprise authorized in 2011, is still vulnerable. The basis of the retail industry are numerous street markets, which may be affected by the coronavirus.

Worst case scenario - an economic crisis could prompt a large number of desperate North Koreans to try to flee the country

- noted in the text.

All this quite clearly calls into question the stability of the political regime. The well-being of Kim Jong-un's government, Foreign Affairs believes, depends on the favor of the country's elites.

Over the past decade, Kim Jong-un has consolidated power much more successfully than many expected, often brutally cracking down on real or alleged rivals. But in the person of a coronavirus, he may soon face an adversary who cannot be shot or imprisoned

- predicts the publication.
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    1. 123
      123
      +3
      11 March 2020 15: 59
      Western journalism continues to degrade. negative

      All this quite clearly calls into question the stability of the political regime. The well-being of Kim Jong-un's government, Foreign Affairs believes, depends on the favor of the country's elites.

      First, what kind of elites does the author broadcast? Secondly, Israel, for example, also closed its borders and is located near the outbreaks of the epidemic. Does this mean that the stability of the Netanyahu regime is in question? And how is he doing with the favor of the elites?
      At first, tales about the Chinese and bats were introduced to readers, and how democracy helps to fight the epidemic, but for some reason they are silent about Italy. Are bats added to pizza there too?
      1. Arkharov
        Arkharov
        -3
        12 March 2020 10: 16
        Are bats added to pizza there too?

        - that’s the main difference that they don’t add. They themselves explained everything well.
    2. Sergey Latyshev
      Sergey Latyshev
      -3
      11 March 2020 23: 45
      What .......
      Power will only strengthen.
      A new enemy from outside only strengthens ...
    3. Arkharov
      Arkharov
      -3
      12 March 2020 10: 12
      Any authoritarian regime has no reserve of stability, should something more or less serious, like a virus, or a fall in oil prices, or anything else, normal democratic countries, not without losses, but emerge. But here, by and large, nothing really happened, but somewhere "the stability of the political regime is in question," where the currency collapsed, somewhere, in South America, and soon in some Asian countries, oil production will stop completely and finally, it seems, there will be nothing to eat ...