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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 2-Jan-2014
2-Jan-14 World View -- Latvia becomes 18th nation to adopt the euro currency

Web Log - January, 2014

2-Jan-14 World View -- Latvia becomes 18th nation to adopt the euro currency

Palestinian ambassador to Czech Republic dies in freak explosion

This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com

N. Korea's Kim Jong-un struggles for stability, purging 'factionalist elements'
Palestinian ambassador to Czech Republic dies in freak explosion
Latvia becomes 18th nation to adopt the euro currency

N. Korea's Kim Jong-un struggles for stability, purging 'factionalist elements'

Kim Jong-un giving New Year's day speech (AP)

Kim Jong-un giving New Year's day speech (AP)

In his typically shrill speech to the North Korean people on New Year's Day, the child dictator Kim Jong-un appeared to be responding to numerous national and international concerns about his government's stability, describing as removing "factionalist scum" the execution of his uncle and mentor Jang Song-thaek:

"Our party's timely, accurate decision to purge the anti-party, anti-revolutionary and factionalist elements helped greatly cement unity of the party and the revolution and strengthened our solidarity by 100 times. ...
It is necessary to establish stringent revolutionary discipline and order in all domains of the revolutionary struggle and construction work."

He pledged a crackdown on "any sort of alien ideology and decadent lifestyle." By referring to his uncle as "factionalist elements," he's hoping to reverse the loss of respect among the North Korean for having killed a family member, in a culture where family is extremely important. Furthermore, the word "factionalist" seems to indicate that there was a power struggle, and he hoped that executing Jang would help "greatly cement unity."

Although most reasons given in the press for the execution of Jang have referred to corrupt deals involving sales of coal and other resources to China, South Korean analysts say that the Kim's fury at Jang was far more personal in nature:

Jang was supposed to be Kim's mentor, but Jang did not show respect for Kim, clapping his hands half-heartedly at Kim's speeches, and even wearing the same kind of suits as Kim, so as to imply equality.

Jang had a previous relationship with Ri Sol-ju, Kim's wife, before Kim even met her. Jang had established the Unhasu Orchestra, in which Ri was a singer. Kim fell for her, but was uncomfortable with her relationship with Jang.

It's Jang that maintained good relations between N. Korea and China. From the Chinese perspective, Kim is too young to be a partner, and Jang provided a bridge. Some Beijing officials may actually have been in a panic after Jang's execution. Channel News Asia and Korea Times

Palestinian ambassador to Czech Republic dies in freak explosion

The Palestinian ambassador to the Czech Republic Jamal Al Jamal, 56, was killed in Wednesday in a freak explosion when he attempted to open what was evidently a booby-trapped safe. The safe had been located in the old Palestinian embassy in Prague, and hadn't been opened in at least 20 years. The safe had been moved to the new Palestinian Embassy which wasn't yet officially open. The ambassador had officially assumed his post on October 11, 2013. It was not known why the safe had been booby-trapped. Prague Post

Latvia becomes 18th nation to adopt the euro currency

Say goodbye to the lat currency

Say goodbye to the lat currency

Latvia rung in the new year by becoming the 18th country to join the eurozone, which uses the euro as its currency. The Latvian people, with a large ethnic Russian minority, are mostly opposed to the conversion to the euro currency. This will be the fourth currency for Latvia in the last 22 years. During the Soviet era, Latvia's currency was the Russian ruble. When Latvia became independent, it first adopted a new Latvian ruble and then, a year later, adopted the pre-World War II lat currency. Many Latvians are extremely reluctant to give up their lats for euros, because they're well aware that Greece and other eurozone countries have gone through major financial and currency crises. However, the supporters of the euro say that this time it's different. Bloomberg and BBC

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 2-Jan-14 World View -- Latvia becomes 18th nation to adopt the euro currency thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (2-Jan-2014) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 2-Jan-2014 2-Jan-14 World View -- Latvia becomes 18th nation to adopt the euro currency

N. Korea's Kim Jong-un struggles for stability, purging 'factionalist elements'

Palestinian ambassador to Czech Republic dies in freak explosion

Latvia becomes 18th nation to adopt the euro currency

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 2-Jan-2014
2-Jan-14 World View -- Latvia becomes 18th nation to adopt the euro currency