After reading the opinions of some experts on North Korea, I have concluded that making assumptions about the continuity of the regime is wrong. The experts totally contradict themselves.
The only thing that we know for certain is that after the death of a despot, there are always bloody purges. As long as these purges do not happen, we do not know the new direction of the North Korean regime.
I learned a lot from the death of General Franco in Spain. Everybody was wrong about his succession.
Kim Jong-un, the youngest son of the just died Kim Jong-il, and his successor, was educated in Europe. He may be different from his father and have different ideas. We all know that his attempts to reform the North Korean economy were a dismal failure.
But the junior Kim is young and may want help and a sense of direction from Seoul or Beijing. At this point, until proven to the contrary, we can assume anything so it is best to leave a door open for change. It may eventually save South Korea from an eventual attack later on.
It is indeed a very dangerous and insecure time for North Korea. So it is important for Seoul to "listen" carefully without making assumptions which may be proven to be wrong a year or less from now.
Romy Kerwin
Toronto, Canada
rkerwin0413@rogers.com
Toronto, Canada
rkerwin0413@rogers.com
![[INTERVIEW] Busan has potential to be world-class city, says mayor](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/b58861f810524e18a4ade3af8c9351f9.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
