King of the North and the King of the South are actually the City of London/British Empire and the US, respectively, was not even on our radar since we were strict adherents of WT prophecy.
I can say with a pretty good degree of certainty, what eventually led me here. Back when I was still in my 20's, but I had gotten old enough to really begin to digest what WT was putting out regarding the Great Tribulation. In the early 90's Oliver Stone came out with his movie "JFK", I was 21, but I had begun researching JFK a little, and right around the time JFK was released HBO had a series called the Garrison tapes, I believe it was called, but it was a bunch of interviews of Jim Garrison who Kevin Costner plays in JFK. Any way, that was what really started me down the "conspiracy" path.
Sometime after all that, I started to realize WT's teaching on what the GT was going to be, made no sense to me. I went to my dad and and said to him, "what WT is teaching about the GT doesn't make sense to me. For example, in this country we have the 1st and 2nd amendment." (Freedom of religion and guns, to make sure of the freedom of religion.) My Father's answer was typical JW speak, "Jehovah put's it into their minds." Well, I NEVER believed that's what it meant, just like I do NOT believe the Bible means that Jehovah literally "hardened Pharaoh's heart." Basically, though, what I was getting at is something on the world stage had to change and drastically. As time went on I became convinced they had no idea what the GT was going to be. Also, when they said Russia was the KOTN, (the second time), I never believed that!
Part of what happened also, is I was certain that there was some evidence out there about what was really going on. I was convinced that's what staying "awake" really meant, looking for evidence in the world for what was going on "behind the scenes" especially given that it became clear to me, the same people who killed JFK were still in power, or at least the institutions they had created.
I never quite put together that it was the Central Bank out of London, that was the actual KOTN, but I did know central banking was at the heart of something very big, and evil. So, when I found Robert and so many of the things he was talking about, over lapped with so much I had learned independently, I was convinced. Too many coincidences to be coincidences.
None of that would have happened if I had actually been satisfied with, "Jehovah put's it in their hearts." I did not then, nor do I now, believe that means what most JW's think it means! Jehovah is our creator, so it that sense he "hardened Pharaoh's heart" because he knew his reaction would be exactly what it was, and Jehovah let him be who he was, in the same way he let Satan, and Adam and Eve sin. Free will! Like wise, even though Jesus made everything, Jehovah is still the creator, because he made Jesus, and he made him with the ability to create all things.
Ironically, it was "free will" that kept me asking questions, and not being satisfied until I got a satisfactory answers!