The Pros And Cons Of Kim Jong Un

If we think through North Korea’s nuclear weapons dilemma using game theory, one aspect of the problem deserves more attention, namely the age of the country's leader, Kim Jong Un.

Because exile doesn't seem to be an option — Kim Jong Un escaping the country safely would be very difficult — Kim needs a plan to keep ahold of his power. That would be a lot, but it helps us realize that his unthinkable tactics are probably determined by some very thought out calculations; although they are selfish and very evil.

It’s difficult to think of the world a half-century in the future. (Especially if God comes before then). Fifty years ago, China was just coming out of the Cultural Revolution, and Japan's rise was not so apparent yet. North Korea still had

If it were me, I would try to make as many allies as I could; and try to stay on their good side.

We Americans prefer to think of Kim Jong Un as an annoyance to our ideals and plans, but his most natural enemy ultimately, is China. It is easier for North Korea to threaten Chinese cities with weapons. China has been against North Korea since the end of the Korean War in 1953. Since assuming power, Kim Jong Un has gone after the most important people with the strongest ties to China.

One way to interpret Kim's arguments with President Trump is that he is signaling to the Chinese that they shouldn't try to take him down because he is willing to countenance “crazy” retaliation. In this view, North Korea is most likely to target Beijing for one of his nukes than Seattle Washington.

More radically, think of Kim as auditioning to the U.S., Japan, South Korea and India as a potential buffer against Chinese expansion. If he played his hand more passively and calmly, hardly anyone would think that such a small country had this capacity. By picking a fight with the U.S., he is showing the ability to deter just about