HARD TO IMAGINE THAT THERE IS ANYTHING LEFT TO CRACK DOWN ON

North Korea's lunatic regime, which makes Iran look like a hedonistic disneyland in comparison, is engaged in a " harsh crackdown" as cross-border connectivity with China is causing the mores within the hardline state to disintegrate, causing a rise in crime and even political dissent. Comparisons of Pyongyang with Bucharest in 1989 when Gorbachev withdrew Soviet support for Ceaucescu's Stalinist regime are being drawn.

Kim Jong-Il still has his academic apologists in the West and has been reaching out to other, thuggish, anti-American regimes like Syria for support. South Korea's left-wing ruling party is desperate to prop up the DPRK any way they can, fearing an implosion and costly reunification. Fingers in the dike. What really matters here though is the attitude of China.

East Germany collapsed because its neighbors no longer would help keep Germans locked behind Honecker's bloody wall. Ceaucescu and his harpy wife met their end before a gleeful firing squad because Moscow renounced the Brezhnev Doctrine. If China's leaders support Kim's regime he will continue to muddle through as the Earth's worst ruler. If Beijing should continue look with indulgence upon goods, information and even political dissent flowing across North Korea's borders Kim Jong-Il will fall. If not at the hands of his people then by the machinations of his closest collaborators eager to save their own necks.

The question is - does Kim know it ?  ¶ 9:41 AM