Kim Jong-uns military visits fewer than expected

By Kim Young-jin

Kim Jong-un, the youngest son and heir to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, has accompanied his father on industrial inspections more frequently than military ones, analysis shows. But an expert says it is too soon to speculate whether this signals a shift from the regime’s “military-first” policy.

Based on reports from the North’s state-run media, the younger Kim has accompanied his father a total of 32 times since being formalized earlier this year. Of those, four were to military posts while nine surveyed industrial sites.

He also appeared alongside the “Dear Leader” during meetings with foreign officials (5 times) and at cultural performances (14 times).

The disparity between industrial- and military-related appearances has some media outlets wondering whether the impoverished North will shift its priority to economic interests if the succession process succeeds.

Kim was elevated to the status of four-star general and vice chairman of the ruling party’s central military commission at an extraordinary party meeting in September, fueling the expectation that the succession process would favor the military.

Dr. Cheong Seong-chang, a North Korea expert at the Sejong Institute, said it is difficult at this point to glean if the younger Kim is leaning towards either the military or the economy.

“While the frequency of the industrial site visits seems to underscore the North’s efforts to become a powerful nation by 2012, his position and vice chairman of the central military commission shows he is involved in military affairs as well,” Cheong said. “He’s involved in both areas.”

The expert added that Kim’s role as vice chair of the military commission clearly shows his involvement in the regime’s Nov. 23 artillery shelling of the South’s Yeonpyeong Island, further illustrating his responsibility in military affairs.

Among other high-ranking North Korean officials, Jang Song-thaek, also on the military commission, accompanied leader Kim the most frequently over the same time period (28 times). He was followed by Kim Kyong-hui, the leader’s younger sister who is part of the ruling party’s politburo (24 times).