Rodman isn't the ambassador to N. Korea. And Kim Jong Un isn't in charge.

[Grantuspeace]

I don't understand why the American people can't see this? Clearly the military took over after the death of Kim Jong Il. The Rodman visit isn't even relevant.

[Lint Head]

1. I can see Kim Jong Un being executed or assassinated to facilitate the hungry for powerful.

[defacto7]

2. Yeah, I've been saying that

Kim Jong Un probably isn't in charge for a long time. To match actions with psychological characteristics, it just doesn't make sense that he is calling the shots. He's a military front... a puppet. Something is seriously out of sync.

[David__77]

3. Sure Kim Jong Un is in charge.

He is by virtue of the fact that he is an absolute necessity. Without the Kim family representative, there is no "Leader" of juche ideology. And that ideology is the foundation of the state; quite the opposite of most countries, where ideologies are a consequence of the state rather than its foundation.

Kim is required and is therefore "in charge," but since he need not do anything, other than tour the country and pose for many photos with his lovely wife, it's unlikely he will do anything to rock the boat. Why would he?

[gordianot]

4. Kim Jong Un is in trouble his public embrace of Rodman did not help.

My guess Kim Jong Un was taken to the woodshed and his subsequent statements were crafted for him after Kim stated he wanted a call from Barak Obama. He is clearly in trouble. Nepotism is no way to run a country and North Korea is not a model for governance or for that matter rabid militarism.

[Grantuspeace]

5. The way he "assumed" power suggests he was "interviewed" for the job.

It seems he was granted another title after passing each phase of his interview or indoctrination. And before his father's death he was virtually unknown. If he always was the heir of parent, wouldn't he have been more visible before his father's death?

[HiPointDem]

6. just propaganda for the mill.

[Grantuspeace]

7. Some who criticized Obama for being open to a dialog with Iran are upset because he doesn't

"pick up the phone" and call Kim Jong Un. Also it is ridiculous to assume there hasn't been any direct lines of communication or even any dialog through a third party such as China. Why can't people see this? And why is there such a dual standard in dealing with North Korea as opposed to Iran?

[davidpdx]

8. In terms of who's in charge

I believe power is being shared between Kim Jong Un and the military. Kim is needed as the figurehead given the history of the country. As for Rodman, no comment.

[Renew Deal]

9. And here I was thinking that Ambassador Rodman made progress

In our relationship with the evil North Koreans, but now I know better.

[spanone]

10. even if kim jong was president of the universe, rodman isn't relevant

[Javaman]

11. It's been subtle but it appears as if there has been a power struggle

going on in N.Korea since Un took "power".

There are some serious deluded nuts in NK who think if they invade/attack SK, China will once again come to their rescue.