Kims Brother-in-Law Likely to Rule NK

A U.S. intelligence agency believes Jang Song-taek, brother-in-law of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, will likely take the most important role in running the country if the ailing leader either becomes physically disabled or dies, Yonhap News reported quoting a local daily Wednesday.

The agency made the suggestions in a report recently delivered to the South Korean presidential office, intelligence agency and other security-related offices, the Dong-A Ilbo said, citing sources in Washington and Seoul.

Seoul's Unification Ministry said it is unaware of the U.S. report

The daily said the report contained three power succession scenarios in North Korea, based on Kim's possible future health condition ― physical disability, protracted incapacitation and death.

"It suggested Chairman Kim will indirectly run the country through Jang Song-taek, husband of his sister (Kim Kyong-hui), and Kim Ok, who serves as the nation's de facto first lady, if he is only physically disabled, not mentally," the daily reported.

"The agency predicted that if Kim dies, North Korea is highly likely be run by collective leadership with Jang, director of the administrative department of the Workers' Party, taking the most important role."

South Korea's National Intelligence Service said Kim Jong-il, 66, suffered a stroke last month and is recuperating after brain surgery. But North Korean officials deny that Kim, who was last seen in public more than 40 days ago, is ill.

Kim took over from his father Kim Il-sung who died of a heart attack in 1994. None of Kim Jong-il's three sons ― Jong-nam, Jong-chul and Jong-un ― are known to have been named as an heir.

Jang, a 62-year-old technocrat who studied in Moscow, came back to Pyongyang's power hierarchy in 2006 two years after being purged for trying to build up a military faction. He is reportedly close to Kim's eldest son Jong-nam.