Comedy
The largest cult on earth has over 25 million followers, the 4th largest army in the world, and a nuclear arsenal. It also has bowling alleys and karaoke bars, and regularly hosts international marathons. Under three generations of iron-fisted dictators, the so-called Hermit Nation disconnected from the rest of the world, but with the rise of western-educated Kim Jong-un, North Korea is rapidly modernizing. Is the country bracing for change? What is life like in an isolated, rogue state? And is there any point in negotiating with a hostile, nuclear-armed enemy? Join Shane and Duncan for a nuanced exploration of the most feared and vilified country on earth. ~ Join the MFFI community and vote on episode topics via DISCORD ~ In this episode: The First Sino-Japanese War The Military Police Reign Era Kim Il-sung, the Tiger Kim Joins the Soviet Army World War II and Pearl Harbor Establishment of the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea The Korean War, 1950 Armistice, 1953 Syngman Rhee and South Korea Juche Kim-Il-sung's Cult of Personality Kim and the Titanic The Rise of Kim Jong-il Cult of Kim Jong-il Mount Paektu Collapse of the Soviet Union North Korean Famine The Rise of Kim Jong-un Purging of Enemies The Execution of Jang Song-thaek The Murder of Kim Jong-nam North Korean Economy The Black Market The Drug Trade Counterfeiting Cyberwarfare Reforms Sanctions Nuclear Capabilities Life in North Korea Life in Pyongyang The DMZ (the 38th Parallel) North Korean Myth Busting ~ Join the Midnight Masses! Become an Insomniac by dropping a review, adding us on social media, and contacting us with episode ideas. And we now have Midnight Merch! Show your Insomniac pride and pick up a tee shirt or coffee mug to spread the word! Midnight Merch ~ Leave an Audio Message! ~ Instagram ~ Podcast Website ~ Episode Transcript ~ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, AND SLEEP IS OVERRATED ~