NK leader uses divide-and-rule strategy

By Kang Seung-woo

Hwang Pyong-so

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appears bent on avoiding giving too much power to a number two man after his uncle’s failed counter-revolution.

Instead, the dictator is strengthening control by putting Hwang Pyong-so and Choe Ryong-hae, in charge of military and civilian affairs, respectively.

Last week, Hwang replaced Choe as vice chairman of the all-powerful National Defense Commission in the Supreme People’s Assembly, cementing his status in the military, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Earlier this year, Hwang was named director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People’s Army (KPA), and in April he was promoted to vice marshal. Both positions report directly to Kim.

In addition, Hwang was named senior deputy director of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) organization guidance department in March and became a four-star general earlier in the year.

On the other hand, Choe was removed from his all-powerful military position, but he is still seen as an influential figure.

He has named head of the State Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission, a position previously held by Jang Song-thaek, the North Korean leader’s executed uncle.

Choe’s new position is ranked lower than those of other party secretaries, but as his boss is a sports enthusiast, he still has influence.

In addition, his commission includes such power elites as Kim Ki-nam, vice-chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, Choe Thae-bok, secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK, and Kim Yang-gon, North Korean United Front Department director.

“Despite being stripped of his positions in the military, Choe is still gaining the favor of his leader,“ said Chang Yong-seok, a researcher at the Institute of Peace and Unification Studies affiliated with Seoul National University.

“In a dictatorial regime like North Korea, the leader’s favor carries more weight than rank.“

The presence of Hwang and Choe shows that after executing Jang, the North Korean leader is reluctant to appoint a right-hand man with excessive power. Jang, once Kim’s number two man, was executed in December for “anti-state acts.”

Since Jang’s execution, Kim has been moving to diffuse his uncle’s former power between Hwang and Choe. In this regard, Hwang is not likely to enjoy the same political status as his forerunners.

Hwang, who does not have a military background, is also expected to take a key role in limiting or even reducing the power of the military, a tough job under the Jong-un’s late father Kim Jong-il, who favored the military over the WPK.