[adamcharnock]

I think North Korea is a materially different situation though. They are three generations deep into dictatorial/dynastic rule.

The Kim family managed to keep one generation sufficiently oppressed that they could raise all the children to believe leader to be a god. Then they had a sufficiently clear line of succession (ie it’s a dynasty) that they could continue to build upon the foundation laid in that first generation rather than engage in power struggles.

I think the sanctions and isolation then came later.

Could Putin pull that out of the hat? It doesn’t seem likely to me in this day and age.

I think North Korea is very much an outlier and has a unique set of circumstances.