Crazy Like a Fox Tactics Wearing Thin July 17, 2006: North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is by no means as "irrational" as he is usually portrayed. He's actually playing to a very old Korean script; threaten extreme actions so that your enemies―or your friends―decide you need calming down, and offer concessions. The previous master of these tactics was Syngman Rhee, President of the Republic of Korea