The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    INTERVIEWAhn Hyo-seop wanted to share dedicated love with 'A Time Called You'

  • 3

    Distraught roller skater apologizes for costly premature celebration

  • 5

    Korea makes last-ditch bid to host World Expo 2030 in Busan

  • 7

    Heavy traffic jams mostly eased on 5th day of holiday

  • 9

    LA-based photographer captures Koreatown unfazed by pandemic

  • 11

    INTERVIEWIt is premature to revise ROK-US mutual defense treaty: veterans' group head

  • 13

    Korea picks up 2 medals in table tennis as gold drought continues

  • 15

    Shin-Hanul No. 2 nuclear reactor begins testing for full operation next year

  • 17

    Public transit fares to increase in Seoul and Busan this week

  • 19

    4 injured in rockfall at tourist attraction on eastern island of Ulleung

  • 2

    Korea's Coast Guard apprehends 22 Chinese after illegal entry attempt

  • 4

    SHINee launches first Japan tour in 5 years

  • 6

    S. Korea wins 1st table tennis gold in 21 yrs

  • 8

    Consumers to face higher prices for daily necessities after Chuseok

  • 10

    Samsung chief visits Middle East to explore new businesses

  • 12

    No regrets for roller skaters after taking silver in relay

  • 14

    National Assembly speeds up efforts to outlaw dog meat consumption in Korea

  • 16

    'Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman' tops Chuseok holiday box office

  • 18

    Internet-only banks outperform legacy lenders in labor productivity

  • 20

    Ruling party vows to investigate China's alleged influence operations

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Wed, October 4, 2023 | 08:23
NK leader reshuffles military to boost loyalty
Posted : 2012-11-21 19:28
Updated : 2012-11-21 19:28
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
By Kim Young-jin

A recent shuffling around of military officials within the Kim Jong-un regime has prompted speculation that the young leader may be battling to maintain a grip on his army 11 months after taking power.

Seoul officials have confirmed that several elite officers have been demoted in recent weeks, including recently-elevated vice marshal Hyon Yong-chol as well as Generals Choe Bu-il and Kim Yong-chol. This coincides with a shuffling around of officials in provincial areas.

The moves come during a revitalization of the party and cabinet, the entities seeking to update the North's moribund economy after the military dominance of state affairs under Kim Jong-il, the current leader's late father.

Observers raise the possibility that the younger Kim's move to strip the military of its lucrative hold on export activities have rubbed some the wrong way.
Meanwhile, Gen. Kim Kyok-sik, said to have been involved in a deadly attack on Yeonpyeong Island in 2010, has regained his four-star status after being stripped of a star, reportedly due to damage incurred by Pyongyang during Seoul's response to the shelling.

"Kim Jong-un is dissatisfied with the military elite and is trying to create new loyalties in the regime," said Baek Seung-joo of the Korea Institute for Defense Analysis. "The remaining military elites will have a high sense of tension to demonstrate their loyalty to the new regime."

The expert added that Kim's dissatisfaction is over a failed long-range rocket launch in April and the recent defection of a soldier across the demilitarized zone straddling the two Koreas.

Kim has been purging his regime since taking power, with reports suggesting multiple officials have been executed for inappropriate behavior during the mourning period for his father, who died of heart failure in December. Kim Chol, vice minister of the army, was reportedly "obliterated" by a mortar round.

The young leader could be leaning toward military leaders with political savvy, capable of inducing loyalty within the ranks. This would contrast to his later father Kim Jong-il who preferred field generals.

In July, Kim dismissed the chief of the military's general staff, Vice Marshal Ri Yong-ho, and him replaced him with a Choe Yong-hae said to have close ties to the ruling family.

While leader Kim often pays heed to his father's "military-first" policy, analysts say the regime is trying to paint him as more people-oriented by prioritizing economic development.

Earlier this month, the Choson Sinbo, a Japan-based pro-North Korean newspaper, said the role of the cabinet has significantly increased, especially in the planning and implementation of North Korea's economic policies.


Emailyjk@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
LG
Top 10 Stories
1Public transit fares to increase in Seoul and Busan this week Public transit fares to increase in Seoul and Busan this week
2Ruling party vows to investigate China's alleged influence operationsRuling party vows to investigate China's alleged influence operations
3Ruling party vows to investigate China's alleged influence operationsRuling party vows to investigate China's alleged influence operations
4Genesis GV80 Coupe looks to compete with Mercedes-Benz, BMW Genesis GV80 Coupe looks to compete with Mercedes-Benz, BMW
5Korean steelmakers on alert over initiation of EU carbon border tariff Korean steelmakers on alert over initiation of EU carbon border tariff
6Hyundai, Kia to extend earnings rally on strengthening dollar, solid sales Hyundai, Kia to extend earnings rally on strengthening dollar, solid sales
7Korean shipbuilders seek lead over Chinese rivals in selling LNG carriers to QatarKorean shipbuilders seek lead over Chinese rivals in selling LNG carriers to Qatar
830 out of 74 major financial companies lack female board member30 out of 74 major financial companies lack female board member
9Lawmakers want chairmen of financial firms held accountable over misconductLawmakers want chairmen of financial firms held accountable over misconduct
10Dong-A Socio Group's honorary chairman passes away at 96 Dong-A Socio Group's honorary chairman passes away at 96
Top 5 Entertainment News
1TREASURE takes flak for excluding Dokdo from its Japan tour map TREASURE takes flak for excluding Dokdo from its Japan tour map
2Two artists' windows to light and serenity Two artists' windows to light and serenity
3Crime thriller, romance series set to roll out in October Crime thriller, romance series set to roll out in October
4[INTERVIEW] Ahn Hyo-seop wanted to share dedicated love with 'A Time Called You' INTERVIEWAhn Hyo-seop wanted to share dedicated love with 'A Time Called You'
5'Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman' tops Chuseok holiday box office 'Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman' tops Chuseok holiday box office
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group