Seoul denies reports on arrest of NK's No. 2 man

By Chung Min-uck

Choe Ryong-hae

The Ministry of Unification denied Monday reports that Choe Ryong-hae, director of the General Political Bureau of the (North) Korean People’s Army (KPA), was arrested and detained for failing to improve the army’s morale under North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

“Our official position is that nothing has been confirmed about the report as of now,” said ministry spokesman Kim Eui-do during a regular briefing. “However, we are keeping a close eye on the situation in the North.”

Free North Korea Radio (FNKR), operated by North Korean defectors in the South, citing a source in the North, reported Sunday that Choe, the North’s second-most powerful man, has been locked behind bars for not fulfilling his duty of ensuring a sufficient show of loyalty from the KPA to Kim as chief of the army.

The report sent a shock wave among North Korean watchers here because it came amid speculation that Kim’ leadership is currently extremely shaky following the execution of his once-powerful uncle, Jang Song-thaek last December.

More than two years have passed since Kim took control of the reclusive country, but his regime appears to be somewhat unstable in the eyes of the outside world.

In December, Kim executed Jang, the former No. 2 man, indicating that the 31-year-old leader could be losing his grip on his domestic power base and is resorting to extreme measures to consolidate his power.

Diplomatically, China’s open criticism of North Korea’s nuclear program has undermined the North’s leverage given that China is its most important ally.

Furthermore, Seoul and Washington’s hard-line stance on Pyongyang’s nuclear programs is cornering the North economically.

Currently, the allies don’t have any economic relations with the Stalinist state except for operation of the inter-Korean complex in the North’s border city of Gaeseong, and is urging the North to take serious steps toward denuclearization so that bilateral economic projects can resume.

However, Pyongyang refuses to do so because it is sticking to a dual-track policy of developing its nuclear capabilities and aspiring to achieve economic development at the same time.