By Kang Seung-woo
In little more than three years since he came to power in December 2011, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has replaced his defense minister five times.
One analyst attributes this frequent change as part of the young dictator’s efforts to bring the military under his control.
The People’s Armed Forces’ (PAF) chief, Hyon Yong-chol, equivalent to the defense minister here, was reportedly executed recently for dozing off during a meeting presided over by Kim.
Hyon had held the position for less than a year.
Kim took power after the death of his father Kim Jong-il. He was the third and youngest son of the former dictator.
North Korea founder Kim Il-sung, the current leader’s grandfather, had five defense ministers during his 46-year rule and Kim Jong-il, his father, stuck with three over 17 years.
“It is part of restraining the North Korean military,” said Prof. Koh Yoo-hwan at Dongguk University.
“His father’s military-first policy helped the military accumulate power, but now the young leader is attempting to weaken it.”
Koh also said that Kim is trying to display his ability to control the military.
Among the five defense ministers, Jang Jong-nam, Hyon’s predecessor, is the lone survivor to occupy the position for more than a year ― 13 months ― but the average tenure was about eight months, although all of them gained favor under Kim Jong-il’s regime.
Kim Jong-un’s first defense minister, Kim Yong-chun, was ousted four months after his appointment; his successor, Kim Jong-gak, a long-time PAF vice minister, stayed in office for seven months.
Kim Kyok-sik, who enjoyed the confidence of Kim Jong-il after leading Pyongyang’s two deadly attacks on the South in 2010, failed to snap the bad streak with a six-month stint. He ordered the North’s torpedoing of the South Korean naval ship Cheonan in March 2010 and the bombardment of Yeongpyeong Island in November 2010.
Gen. Jang Jong-nam, who assumed the position in June last year, became the longest-serving defense minister under the younger Kim’s regime, but after quitting the position, he was demoted to lieutenant general and moved to command a field unit.
Hyon also served as PAF chief for 10 months before being executed on April 30 by an anti-aircraft gun for showing disloyalty to Kim, according to Seoul’s National Intelligence Service, Wednesday.