When people talk about dictatorship they – at least usually – expect some resistance to it. People assume that there should be some conspiracy to overthrow dictators or some dissidents printing leaflets criticizing the government. However, the sad truth is that the more oppressive the government is the less opposition it usually faces, as people are either ignorant about alternatives, too intimidated to act or both. Ask yourself: If any meaningful opposition to the authorities would probably mean the death penalty for you and your family, which was normal in Kim Il Sung’s North Korea, would you have guts to become an activist?

That’s why stories of really oppressive regime being overthrown from within are extremely rare. However, in case of North Korea, there were some unsuccessful attempts to do so.