Why Do They Even Write Stories Like This?

The AP recently published the story

Thousands Rally in North Korea in Support of New Leader

A story like that is so willfully naive it's practically volunteering to do North Korea's pathetic propaganda work.

The story talks about "signs of his quickly expanding personality cult." Have you seen this guy? Kim Jong Un is in his late 20s and looks like this:



I think it's more open to debate whether he actually has a personality than whether a "cult of personality" has developed around him. It's not even clear if he attended the rally. Or has ever spoken publically. Can you say "dim-witted puppet figure?"

And even if he is not a puppet, if he is actually in charge, does AP really think that all those people are just thrilled to be at that rally? This is North Korea. The place where they let millions of their people starve rather than deviate from their ideology.

The piece would be more honestly headlined "In Brutal, Repressive North Korean Police State, Cowed Subjects Go To Rally When Told To."