Kim Jong-un likely to take position 'formally' representing North Korea: Thae Yong-ho

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

North Korea

Tue, October 3, 2023 | 03:33

Kim Jong-un likely to take position 'formally' representing North Korea: Thae Yong-ho

Posted : 2019-03-18 16:05

Updated : 2019-03-19 09:24

North Korea's Kim Jong-un delivers his New Year speech in this January 2019 photo released by the country's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim Jong-un might hold a new position as a formal head of state through amending the constitution, former North Korean high-ranking official Thae Yong-ho said on Sunday. KCNA-Yonhap

By Jung Da-min

Thae Yong-ho, a former diplomat who defected to the South. Yonhap file

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is likely to seek a constitutional amendment at a Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) meeting slated for early next month to become a formal head of state, Thae Yong-ho, a former North Korean diplomat who defected to the South, claimed Sunday.

This, if comes true, will represent North Korea's efforts to become a "normal state," Thae wrote on his blog.

"From the beginning of the year, North Korea has emphasized the concept of 'state,' promoting statism, its national flag, bird, flower and customs, which could be seen as part of a wider move to become a normal state," he said.

"In the same context, it seems likely Kim Jong-un would be recommended to a new position during the first meeting of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly and the corresponding amendment of the constitution would follow."

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While Kim Jong-un is the de facto chief ruler of the North Korean regime as chairman of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, as well as chairman of the State Affairs Commission and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the SPA, has held the position of the ceremonial head of state since 1998.

Thae said North Korea's dual structure of state has made it difficult for Kim to be recognized as the head of the state on diplomatic occasions, such as receiving congratulatory messages for national days.

"In practice, the constitution says Kim Yong-nam represents North Korea to the outside world and some Western countries that emphasize law, accordingly, could not send congratulatory messages or formal letters to Kim Jong-un," Thae said.

"In fact, it is necessary to clearly state in the constitution that Kim Jong-un is head of state so his constitutional position would be secured for the future when he would have to sign declarations of war or peace treaties forged by multilateral consensus."

On March 10, North Korea held a nationwide "parliamentary" election where a total 687 SPA members from each constituency were named to serve a five-year term.

Kim Jong-un's name was left off the list, however, the first time since the foundation of the dictatorship it has not included him, his father or grandfather, fueling speculation on Kim's intention behind it.

Meanwhile, North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui addressed a meeting of diplomats and foreign media in Pyongyang on March 15, saying the North was deeply disappointed by the fruitless results of the second North Korea-U.S. summit in Hanoi and Kim Jong-un will soon make a decision "whether to maintain the moratorium or not" on nuclear and missile testing.

But Kim is not likely to make an announcement on his stance regarding missile launches and nuclear tests for a while, Thae said, considering the state media's silence on the press briefing.

damin.jung@koreatimes.co.kr