What is future for Kim Ok?

By Chung Min-uck

Following the death of the North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, eyes are turning to Kim Ok, 47, who is regarded as “North Korea’s first lady.”

Kim has served as Kim Jong-il’s personal secretary since 1980s. She became a de facto first lady after the death of Kim Jong-il’s consort Ko Young-hee in 2004.

Kim appeared in the late leader’s meeting with Hyundai Group chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun in 2009 and started accompanying Kim Jong-il in various formal meetings in 2010. It is reported that she is deeply involved in the North’s decision-making process and wielding great influence in state affairs.

Recently, Kim accompanied Kim Jong-il in his visit to China and Russia on May and August, respectively, this year.

Experts differ in opinions about the prospect of the first lady’s position in the North’s power structure after Kim Jong-il’s death.

Kim is considered favorable to Kim Jong-un, Kim Jong-il’s youngest son and heir-apparent, as she has been a long-time supporter for his leadership succession. Also the fact that her father Kim Hyo is still assuming a position as a vice finance minister in the regime supports some experts’ view that she will remain in power despite the death of the “dear leader.”

Yet, some cast doubt over the first lady’s possible maintenance of power amid power struggle with other key figures.

They say that Kim was behind the expelling of Chang Song-taek, husband of Kim Jong-il's only sister and who is reportedly known to have masterminded Kim Jong-il’s leadership, from the power in 2004.

They say that Chang together with his wife Kim Kyong-hui, Kim Jong-il’s younger sister and a key member of North’s leadership, is to corner Kim to step down from North’s upcoming power structure.

Rep. Park Sun-young of the conservative Liberty Forward Party earlier this year claimed that if Kim, like some reports suggest, has seven-year-old son between Kim Jong-il, she is likely to be expelled from North Korea by her opponents for fear that the son might pose a threat in the future leadership of the North.