Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Lil’ Kim whacks the chief of operations of the North Korean military

Well, that’s one approach to civilian control of the military: Kim Jong Un is reported to have executed the head of operations for the North Korean Army. This sure makes our civil-military relations look tame. For what it is worth, I suspect this is not a sign of Kim’s strength but of his weakness. As ...

TO GO WITH Oly-2012-PRK,FEATURE(FILES)
TO GO WITH Oly-2012-PRK,FEATURE(FILES)
TO GO WITH Oly-2012-PRK,FEATURE (FILES) This file photo taken on April 15, 2012 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un saluting as he watches a military parade to mark 100 years since the birth of the country's founder and his grandfather, Kim Il-Sung, in Pyongyang. He lacks the toned physique of an Olympian but "dear respected" leader Kim Jong-Un will be the inspiration when North Korea's athletes go for gold at the London Olympics. North Korea are aiming for a record number of medals in London in what would be a timely boost for Kim, the new face of the country's ruling dynasty and its all-pervasive personality cult. AFP PHOTO / FILES / Ed Jones (Photo credit should read Ed Jones/AFP/GettyImages)

Well, that’s one approach to civilian control of the military: Kim Jong Un is reported to have executed the head of operations for the North Korean Army.

Well, that’s one approach to civilian control of the military: Kim Jong Un is reported to have executed the head of operations for the North Korean Army.

This sure makes our civil-military relations look tame.

For what it is worth, I suspect this is not a sign of Kim’s strength but of his weakness. As friend points out, when the stick is used, it is a sign that carrots are no longer enough to keep the regime’s lackeys in line.

Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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