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Fri, August 19, 2022 | 13:47
-------------------------
N. Korean leader learning through trial and error
삐걱거리는 김정은 리더십
Posted : 2012-04-25 18:02
Updated : 2012-04-25 18:02
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Kim Jong-un
By Kang Hyun-kyung

Of late, the young North Korean leader had made a few blunders in foreign policy, evidence he is learning through trial and error.

The North’s wrong choices of rhetoric and warnings against South Korea come months after the death of Kim Jong-il in December cast the spotlight on his third son Jong-un as his successor is inexperienced and little known to the outside world. Jong-un is believed to be in his late 20s.

Cheong Seong-chang, a senior fellow at the Sejong Institute, said the North Korean military’s threatening of special action against the South is an example signaling the Stalinist state’s leadership is on the wrong track.

Cheong said the North revealed extreme hostility toward South Korea as shown in negative reactions to President Lee Myung-bak’s remarks on the Pyongyang regime.

He suspects the leadership has a problem with its handling of inter-Korean relations.

Through its state-controlled media, Cheong said North Korea on several occasions has poured out a variety of seemingly inappropriate words and descriptions about President Lee and Unification Minster Yu Woo-ik.

Cheong called the Pyongyang’s rationale behind the hostile reactions “nonsensical,” saying its poor handling of inter-Korean affairs could be a reflection of the young leader’s lack of experience in foreign policy.

On Monday, the North Korean military warned of “special action” against South Korea for President Lee and some conservative media outlets had “insulted” the North Korean leader.

It said the new attack will be so swift that it can be carried out within three or four minutes, while refusing to specify what it would be.

North Korea watchers here kept all attack options open, including bio-terrorism and cyber attacks to paralyze the website of the government or the media outlets the North mentioned.

“Before rising to power, Jong-un had some experience in the military, but virtually no experience in foreign policy because his late father had a tight grip on affairs with foreign governments until he died. Jong-un’s emotional and hasty decisions without thinking twice about the possible consequences followed,” Cheong said.

Since Kim Jong-un has led the “Hermit Kingdom” after his father’s death, he has made several unacceptable mistakes according to Cheong.

During the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly held on April 13, Kim Jong-un assumed the role of first chairman of the National Defense Commission, keeping his late father in the position of chairman of the powerful body.

Cheong said this is another blunder the successor has made.

“In North Korea, the title of first chairman usually refers to a position higher than chairman. Having said what he has, Jong-un has assumed a higher position than his late father, which was the unintended result and another big mistake,” the North Korea watcher said.

삐걱거리는 김정은 리더십
북한이 최근 이명박 대통령의 발언과 일부 매체의 북한 보도를 빌미로 “특별행동”운운하며 남한에 대한 협박을 강화하는 것이 김정은 리더십의 외교정책상 경험부족을 반영하는 것이라는 분석이 나왔다. 세종연구소 정성장 박사는 북한의 특별행동 성명과 연이은 추후 동향에 대해 “지도부의 상황 판단 및 대처 능력에 큰 문제점이 있다는 것을 보여주는 것”이라고 지적했다. 정박사는 또한 북한은 최근 헌법 개정을 통해 얼마 전까지 최고지도자였던 김정일을 김정은보다 하위 직책에 추대하는 어처구니없는 실수까지 저질렀다고 주장했다. 북한이 13일 김정일을 국방위원장으로 그대로 두고, 김정은을 제1국방위원장으로 추대한 것이 실수의 산물이라는 것이다. 북한의 일반적인 직책 표현을 보면 ‘제1’ 표현이 앞에 붙는 직책이 ‘제1’ 표현이 앞에 붙지 않는 직책보다 상위의 직책이라고 지적하며 이 같은 기준을 적용하면 김정은의 ‘국방위원회 제1위원장’직이 김정일의 ‘국방위원회 위원장’직보다 상위의 직책이 된다고 정 박사는 말했다.
Emailhkang@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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