Family rules NK’s inner circle

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Mon, August 14, 2017 | 05:58

Family rules NK’s inner circle

Posted : 2010-09-30 16:34

Updated : 2010-09-30 16:34

By Kang Hyun-kyung

Unveiled Wednesday, a day after the rare Workers’ Party Conference, the new lineup of key party posts in North Korea exposed a distinct trend in the rise of four figures.

Joining the four inner circle members are Kim Kyoung-hui, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, as well as heir apparent Kim Jong-un’s aunt, and her husband Jang Song-taek.

Jang, 64, endured a period of lows from 2003 to 2006 in his political career as Kim Jong-un’s mother Ko Young-hui, was suspicious of his intentions. She died of breast cancer in 2004.

In July, 2003, a high-ranking North Korean defector speculated in a seminar held in the National Assembly that Jang would probably become the leader of the communist party if a “sudden change” were to occur there.

Well aware of the prospects for North Korea’s leadership, the late Ko felt threatened that an over-ambitious Jang might threaten her desires for her son to take over after Kim Jong-il dies.

Jang disappeared from the public eye in 2003 and was suspended from duty until 2005.

North Korea watcher Cheong Seong-chang described the disappearance of the brother-in-law during the period as a power struggle-driven retaliation.

Jang made his comeback and rejoined the Workers’ Party after Ko passed away.

Recently, during the Workers’ Party Conference, he was made a member of the Central Military Commission (CMC).

His promotion, however, was overshadowed by his wife Kim, given she was elevated to a four-star general, as well as became a member of the party’s Political Bureau.

Analysts said the Kim-Jang couple would play a key role in facilitating the power succession to Jong-un.

The remaining two rising stars are Ri Yong-ho, chief of the general staff of the Korean People’s Army, and Choi Ryong-hae.

Ri, 68, was widely considered the biggest winner of the third Workers’ Party Conference as he was appointed as vice chairman of the CMC, the same rank as the heir apparent Jong-un.

The CMC previously had no vice chairman post, but Kim Jong-il created the new position to help his youngest son gain some military credentials.

Analysts said Ri will control the North’s military which has become the most powerful body in the Hermit Kingdom.

The lineup of the four figures in the high-ranking posts in the Workers’ Party hints that Kim Jong-un’s aunt Kim Kyoung-hui will be responsible for overseeing the overall party affairs, while Ri will control the military.

Choi, 60, was also considered a winner at the crucial meeting as he was made a member of the CMC.

North Korea watchers said endorsement from the military was necessary for Kim Jong-un to smoothly take over the North’s leadership post after his father dies.

This probably influenced the North’s ailing leader’s decision to place Ri and Choi in the key military posts, they observed.

hkang@koreatimes.co.kr