表哥江湖再无六一中路
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Kim Jong-un's "Stunning Kneel"
Excerpt from Xu Sheng, Author Xu Sheng
The sudden death of the Russian ambassador to North Korea, Matzegora, has sparked a series of mourning waves between North Korea and Russia. Especially in North Korea, he was given exceptional honors.
Kim Jong-un personally sent condolences to Putin, highlighting Matzegora's importance between North Korea and Russia.
Not only that, Kim Jong-un also personally visited the Russian embassy in North Korea to mourn Matzegora and expressed condolences to Matzegora's family.
He knelt on one knee in front of Matzegora's portrait, shocking the media.
Generally speaking, when a foreign ambassador passes away, it is considered significant for the foreign minister to offer condolences. When a head of state pays their respects, it is extraordinary. Kim Jong-un's status in North Korea is much higher than that of an ordinary head of state. His personal involvement and kneeling is undoubtedly a condolence of the highest order.
Why does a Russian ambassador hold such a high position in Kim Jong-un's heart?
Kim Jong-un evaluated Matzegora in his speech as:
He is a "capable diplomat who made special contributions to the history of friendly relations between North Korea and Russia";
He is a "good person, close friend, and true comrade" in the hearts of the North Korean people.
According to North Korea's system, such praise can be considered top-tier.
On the Russian side, Matzegora is also highly regarded, described as an "ideological leader, a key promoter, and a core driving force" in the North Korea-Russia relationship.
In simple terms, both North Korea and Russia agree that Matzegora played a very critical role in the relationship between the two countries.
Matzegora's life began in the former Soviet Union (born in 1955). At that time, Russia and Ukraine were still eating from the same pot, and the living standards of North Korea and South Korea were similar. Based on his birthplace (Odessa), he should be considered Ukrainian, and his university major was international relations. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, he joined the Russian diplomatic system.
From 2006 to 2011, he served as the Minister-Counselor at the Russian Embassy in North Korea. During this time, Russia grew weary of NATO's endless eastward expansion, while North Korea engaged in six-party talks over nuclear issues.
Starting in 2014, he served as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to North Korea.
It can be said that Matzegora is an expert on North Korea, knowing more about it than many North Koreans.
Looking at the time Matzegora served as ambassador to North Korea in 2014, it coincided with the Ukrainian color revolution and Russia's military action to seize Crimea. Due to the deteriorating relationship between Russia and the West, Russia began to ease relations with the East.
The decade during which Matzegora served as ambassador to North Korea was precisely the decade of rapid development in North Korea-Russia relations.
During this decade, Russia and the West had a falling out, and fought fiercely with the once little brother Ukraine.
In this decade, North Korea became a veritable nuclear state, acquiring submarines, missiles, drones, and a series of other weapons.
In the official evaluation of Matzegora, it is written that the development of the North Korea-Russia relationship to its current "unprecedentedly close level" is inseparable from the long-term groundwork laid by both sides, and Matzegora was involved in almost all key nodes—whether in political, economic, or humanitarian fields, he stood at the forefront of promoting cooperation.
In short, Matzegora encountered the best period in North Korea and Russia's relationship, being regarded as a bridge and promoter between the two countries.
So what does Kim Jong-un's stunning kneel signify?
The answer is that it shows Kim Jong-un's clear sense of gratitude and resentment, not forgetting those who have helped him.
In today's global village, politicians are a large group, but most are smooth operators, speaking one way and meaning another; leaders like Kim Jong-un, who are clear about gratitude and resentment, are actually quite rare.
On October 24, Kim Jong-un visited the Martyrs' Cemetery of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army located in Pyongan South Province, kneeling on one knee to offer flowers to the martyr Mao Anying as a sign of respect. This act received praise from Chinese media, indicating that North Korea has not forgotten the sacrifices of the volunteer army and has not forgotten the history of fighting side by side with China.
At the same time, Kim Jong-un's historical grievances with Japan are never ambiguous. Whether it’s Seiko Nakaima or other Japanese politicians, he responds with coldness. This characteristic is very distinct. Many countries have been invaded by Japan in history, yet today there are few like North Korea, clearly placing their grievances in the most prominent position.
North Korea is clear about love and hate externally as well as internally. Recently, there was news that in Taedong County, North Hwanghae Province, a female soldier on leave found herself stranded when the bus she was on broke down and had to walk home. Three local male high school students took advantage of the situation and followed her to a secluded area, first committing sexual assault, and then fearing exposure, they simply killed her.
After the case was solved, the authorities showed no hesitation and directly executed the three little devils. In other countries, they would surely use the juvenile protection law as a shield, engaging in educational rehabilitation and dragging it out for a long time. North Korea's executions are very straightforward, not allowing the bad seeds a chance to offend again. I believe many people would like to extend North Korea's methods to deal with those little devils.
In North Korea, there are three red lines (treason, economic crime, and violent crime) that cannot be crossed; if crossed, one must pay a painful price. The actions of those three bad seeds belong to violent crimes. Mercy towards evil people (regardless of age, gender, profession, or social status) is cruelty and injustice to good people.
North Korea is a highly controversial country. Some support it, appreciating its clear stance on love and hate, as well as its decisive execution. Others oppose it, citing its underdeveloped economy and lack of democracy and freedom.
So what will North Korea do next?
North Korea's military-first politics should come to a phase conclusion, focusing resources on economic development. Because North Korea's strategic safety is now assured, but its economic level still lags behind.
From a historical macro cycle perspective, the time window left for North Korea to develop its economy is actually limited. North Korea's fertility rate is also declining. The population of North Korea is originally small, and if it enters an aging world, it will be even harder to develop the economy. If the economy does not develop sufficiently and enters an aging phase, it will be a typical case of growing old before getting rich.
The time left for North Korea is already limited.
Excerpt from Xu Sheng, Author Xu Sheng
The sudden death of the Russian ambassador to North Korea, Matzegora, has sparked a series of mourning waves between North Korea and Russia. Especially in North Korea, he was given exceptional honors.
Kim Jong-un personally sent condolences to Putin, highlighting Matzegora's importance between North Korea and Russia.
Not only that, Kim Jong-un also personally visited the Russian embassy in North Korea to mourn Matzegora and expressed condolences to Matzegora's family.
He knelt on one knee in front of Matzegora's portrait, shocking the media.
Generally speaking, when a foreign ambassador passes away, it is considered significant for the foreign minister to offer condolences. When a head of state pays their respects, it is extraordinary. Kim Jong-un's status in North Korea is much higher than that of an ordinary head of state. His personal involvement and kneeling is undoubtedly a condolence of the highest order.
Why does a Russian ambassador hold such a high position in Kim Jong-un's heart?
Kim Jong-un evaluated Matzegora in his speech as:
He is a "capable diplomat who made special contributions to the history of friendly relations between North Korea and Russia";
He is a "good person, close friend, and true comrade" in the hearts of the North Korean people.
According to North Korea's system, such praise can be considered top-tier.
On the Russian side, Matzegora is also highly regarded, described as an "ideological leader, a key promoter, and a core driving force" in the North Korea-Russia relationship.
In simple terms, both North Korea and Russia agree that Matzegora played a very critical role in the relationship between the two countries.
Matzegora's life began in the former Soviet Union (born in 1955). At that time, Russia and Ukraine were still eating from the same pot, and the living standards of North Korea and South Korea were similar. Based on his birthplace (Odessa), he should be considered Ukrainian, and his university major was international relations. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, he joined the Russian diplomatic system.
From 2006 to 2011, he served as the Minister-Counselor at the Russian Embassy in North Korea. During this time, Russia grew weary of NATO's endless eastward expansion, while North Korea engaged in six-party talks over nuclear issues.
Starting in 2014, he served as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to North Korea.
It can be said that Matzegora is an expert on North Korea, knowing more about it than many North Koreans.
Looking at the time Matzegora served as ambassador to North Korea in 2014, it coincided with the Ukrainian color revolution and Russia's military action to seize Crimea. Due to the deteriorating relationship between Russia and the West, Russia began to ease relations with the East.
The decade during which Matzegora served as ambassador to North Korea was precisely the decade of rapid development in North Korea-Russia relations.
During this decade, Russia and the West had a falling out, and fought fiercely with the once little brother Ukraine.
In this decade, North Korea became a veritable nuclear state, acquiring submarines, missiles, drones, and a series of other weapons.
In the official evaluation of Matzegora, it is written that the development of the North Korea-Russia relationship to its current "unprecedentedly close level" is inseparable from the long-term groundwork laid by both sides, and Matzegora was involved in almost all key nodes—whether in political, economic, or humanitarian fields, he stood at the forefront of promoting cooperation.
In short, Matzegora encountered the best period in North Korea and Russia's relationship, being regarded as a bridge and promoter between the two countries.
So what does Kim Jong-un's stunning kneel signify?
The answer is that it shows Kim Jong-un's clear sense of gratitude and resentment, not forgetting those who have helped him.
In today's global village, politicians are a large group, but most are smooth operators, speaking one way and meaning another; leaders like Kim Jong-un, who are clear about gratitude and resentment, are actually quite rare.
On October 24, Kim Jong-un visited the Martyrs' Cemetery of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army located in Pyongan South Province, kneeling on one knee to offer flowers to the martyr Mao Anying as a sign of respect. This act received praise from Chinese media, indicating that North Korea has not forgotten the sacrifices of the volunteer army and has not forgotten the history of fighting side by side with China.
At the same time, Kim Jong-un's historical grievances with Japan are never ambiguous. Whether it’s Seiko Nakaima or other Japanese politicians, he responds with coldness. This characteristic is very distinct. Many countries have been invaded by Japan in history, yet today there are few like North Korea, clearly placing their grievances in the most prominent position.
North Korea is clear about love and hate externally as well as internally. Recently, there was news that in Taedong County, North Hwanghae Province, a female soldier on leave found herself stranded when the bus she was on broke down and had to walk home. Three local male high school students took advantage of the situation and followed her to a secluded area, first committing sexual assault, and then fearing exposure, they simply killed her.
After the case was solved, the authorities showed no hesitation and directly executed the three little devils. In other countries, they would surely use the juvenile protection law as a shield, engaging in educational rehabilitation and dragging it out for a long time. North Korea's executions are very straightforward, not allowing the bad seeds a chance to offend again. I believe many people would like to extend North Korea's methods to deal with those little devils.
In North Korea, there are three red lines (treason, economic crime, and violent crime) that cannot be crossed; if crossed, one must pay a painful price. The actions of those three bad seeds belong to violent crimes. Mercy towards evil people (regardless of age, gender, profession, or social status) is cruelty and injustice to good people.
North Korea is a highly controversial country. Some support it, appreciating its clear stance on love and hate, as well as its decisive execution. Others oppose it, citing its underdeveloped economy and lack of democracy and freedom.
So what will North Korea do next?
North Korea's military-first politics should come to a phase conclusion, focusing resources on economic development. Because North Korea's strategic safety is now assured, but its economic level still lags behind.
From a historical macro cycle perspective, the time window left for North Korea to develop its economy is actually limited. North Korea's fertility rate is also declining. The population of North Korea is originally small, and if it enters an aging world, it will be even harder to develop the economy. If the economy does not develop sufficiently and enters an aging phase, it will be a typical case of growing old before getting rich.
The time left for North Korea is already limited.
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