It has come to light that several of Kim Jong Il’s onsite inspection tours to military bases last year were preventative actions against a possible military coup.
A researcher at the Institute for National Security Strategy, Koh Jae Hong, released an analysis of Kim Jong Il’s onsite inspections to military bases in the winter 2007 issue of the quarterly Military Forum. He pointed out that Kim Jong Il flaunts his domination over the military through onsite inspections and by participating in other military-related activities.
“Kim Jong Il makes around 50 visits to military-related sites each year to come face-to-face with high-level military officials from all over the country. Kim Jong Il’s frequent contact with military officials is an attempt to make it more difficult for military circles to execute a coup,” wrote Koh.
He added: “Kim Jong Il’s direct control over the military helps to strengthen the power of military officials in the reclusive country because one’s level of power depends on how close one is to Kim Jong Il.”
Koh also analyzed the relationship between Kim Jong Il’s onsite inspection tours to military facilities and North Korea’s major military operations, such as the launch of the Daepodong missile in 1998, the Yeonpyong Naval Battle with South Korea in 1999, the West Sea Battle in 2002, and the missile tests and nuclear experiment in 2006.
Koh noted: “In 1998 when North Korea test fired the Daepodong missile, Kim Jong Il made several whirlwind visits to local cities where missile manufacturing facilities are located and inspected the military bases around the Daepodong missile site in Hamkyung Province.”
He pointed out that “after testing the Daepodong missile on August 31st, 1998, Kim Jong Il’s first public activity was to worship the late Kim Il Sung in Mt. Keumsoo Memorial Palace on September 9th, the 50th anniversary of the foundation of North Korea. However, visiting Mt. Keumsoo Memorial Palace for the worship of Kim Il Sung was an unusual activity for Kim Jong Il because he visited there just once from 1998 to 2006.
“Kim Jong Il visited Mt. Keumsoo Memorial Palace on October 9th, 2006, right before the nuclear experiment,” said Koh.
Although Kim Jong Il did not visit any naval bases at the time of the West Sea battle, two months before the battle, he promoted rear admiral Kim Yoon Shim to full admiral in five years without any particular reason.
According to the article, “Kim Jong Il focused on carrying out onsite inspections of military bases for 2 months in 1998, when the Daepodong missile was tested. Kim Jong Il completed 30 inspections including 20 visits to military bases located near the coastal cities of South and North Hamkyung Provinces. The Dear Leader’s activities and the missile tests and nuclear experiments seem to be linked to each other. It seems that Kim Jong Il’s goal was to carry out preliminary checks of the missile facilities a few months prior to the test firings.”
