how long do you give it then? 20-30 years before total collapse?
I've talked to a friend who went there for a holiday just to see what it was like. they are all really as fucked up as I say. they're all 5 foot and under, super mal-nourished, and many believe the official propaganda, you have one or two guides with you all the time, so you can't even attempt to tell the people about the outside world
I was joking, I can't see any sort of resistance occurring from the grass roots but as in all regimes the support of the military is king and I suppose it's possible that after Kim Jong Ill carks it the myth of his immortality will obviously take a blow and his son may not have the same absolute loyalty of the senior generals and once some sort of power tussle between the institutionalized government and the military occurs anything can happen. But if the new guy manages to balance the military hierarchy properly the only way I can see things changing much is through outside military intervention. The US is way too hands tied to try anything like it, the noises from the PRC is that they've got no interest in being the world police once they overtake the US. If it rallies economically, perhaps Europe but unlikely and at any rate the Bush doctrine was well and truly rubbished by the Iraq fiasco.
Really the only way I can see someone getting involved is if the DPRK starts something with South Korea, I think China would then come to support the south and the terms of surrender (the DPRK wouldn't win) could include some stuff about reform alla Japan 1949.
But really, I think maybe a 20% chance something will happen with the military after Kim calls it a day, maybe 5% outside intervention will occur, overwhelmingly likely we will never see the DPRK liberated in any substantial way.