Shortages in food are starting to be noticed. If the government is concerned about it, it doesn't show it by any major policy changes. It may be a cultural thing that causes some folks to stay set in their ways. It may be pride. "Face-saving" they call it in Korea. How can one admit he's made such a serious blunder with an entire nation's provision?

Communism itself is pretty unchanging. But Kim tries to toe the line even more when it comes to the "old" ways of the Party. He is mildly disgusted at the failure of Communist nations around him to be "truly" Communist, whatever that means. To Kim it means we don't work for money in this nation! Period. The capitalists are pigs in every sense of the word. We will not follow them.

That's all surface talk. In fact, money rules North Korea in a much more sinister way in the 80's and at present. It's called the bribe. There's just a lot of things that need doing and obtaining, and bribery is king.

America continues to ignore North Korea as much as possible, to the Kims' frustration. NK tries to get our attention, tries to force us to "love" them, but the relationship struggles. The U.S. is not so concerned with the military threat at this point and feels it can afford a waiting game. Surely North Korea will self-destruct eventually. Their demise will not be blamed on us.

Next enter the defectors. "Let me out" folks start showing up here and there outside the nation. Their statements are not always against the Kims. After all they are brainwashed. But hungry too. Like kids who think their father has tried everything imaginable to feed them, but just can't. So they harbor no grudges. Dad tried. But for goodness' sake we've got to eat! So out they come, with habitual praise pouring out of hungry mouths. Some of course are afraid to speak against this mighty one. Some tell the honest truth. Eventually the truth sets in for all of them.

Part of that truth is that the downward spiral they have been on as the Kims have tried to create an un-matched, yea un-matchable military might on the northeastern half of the Korean peninsula. North Korea was much better off than China until the early 70's. So poor were the Chinese that they went to North Korea for aid. This explains why so many of them want to "return the favor" today.

But after the Cuban military crisis and the Vietnam War, North Korea decides it will have to compete to survive. No Yankee will be raising a flag in old Chosun. No Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or South Korean will ever dominate either. The race is on. The race has led to the grave for millions of North Koreans.