Memo To Kim Jong Un

Essentials for 20th century dictators,
which 21st Century hereditary dictators
will need to renew to ensure their sons rule...

1-a civil war which can be seen as part of a wider conflict,
in which the motives for your activities are hidden in plain sight
from your own population.

2-have a founding myth to your state which reverses the meanings
of your actions, and ennobles your motives beyond any shadow of doubt,
particularly when your actions were actually incompetent.

3-have absolute control of the media, both privately owned
and state sponsored, through which to reinforce your founding myth.

4-be renowned for your military prowess, even if like Joseph Stalin
it started small-robbing Russian banks to finance the then-suppressed
International Communist Party.

5-have a state security that does what it says-provides security
for just the state, and does it by means it does not admit to,
by providing no exit from you at any point for your subjects.

6-have a foundation in a religion or a cult, the better to build
the aura of sainthood around yourself. Erect large statues
of yourself which your subjects will meet at the feet of
and appear to be paying you respect, though it is probable
they are worshiping the statue, when the statue
was erected to embody their fear of your omniscience.

7-early in your regime mismanage the rural economy
and ban imports and uncontrolled contact with foreigners
so the country can't feed itself and the rest of the world can't help.
Then blame the famine on your political enemies, and have them executed.
.
8)-make your contemporaries appear to be rivals for your power
(see 7) and change your subordinates often, the better
to make them renew their subordination more intently.

9)-finally when nobody can say 'No' to you at any time
realize that everyone will say 'Yes' to everything you do,
but nobody knows what either word means.
By this time it will be easier for you to die than remake
the world as a place where your subjects can be sure that  2+2=4.