The Associated Press today reported the emerging influence of Kim Ok, the fourth wife of the Dear Leader, Kim Jong Il. Kim Ok, Kim Jong Il’s current wife and former secretary, has been staying by his sickbed after his stroke and taking upon a role as a messenger.
According to the AP, as the closest person personally to Kim Jong Il, Kim Ok has been not only nursing the ailing leader but also is signing official documents on his behalf. Quoting Kang Sung Yoon, a North Korea expert at Seoul’s Dongguk University, the AP did not rule out the possibility of Kim Ok being the next leader. “If his health problem prolongs, some internal feuding for power will likely occur. And Kim Ok may be poised to fill any void.” Another North Korea expert, Kang Jung Mo of Kyung Hee University said, “If Kim Jong Il can’t communicate with others, her role will be larger.”
The Korea Times on the 13th reported that South Korean intelligence officials are increasingly paying attention to Kim Ok who is one of a few people who have free access to the bedridden Kim Jong Il.
However, a Kim Jong Il expert in South Korea offers a different opinion. “Despite Kim Ok’s increasing influence as the Dear Lear is ailing in sickbed, it is important to remember that the role of Kim Ok only remains as a messenger” he said.
“She surely holds an essential position in Kim Jong Il’s life. However, it is absolutely not possible for Kim Ok to become the next leader” he added.
Currently, it is known that she supports Kim Jong Il’s second son Kim Jong Cheol to succeed the father. When asked about the possibility of Kim Ok influencing the succession decision, he said that 95% of the decision will be made solely by Kim Jong Il, and the rest will be of others’ opinions. He admitted that Kim Ok is an important and prominent figure but not as influential as to affect Kim’s decision on who will succeed.
Some analysts suggest that once next successor takes over, Kim Ok’s influencing power will diminish.
Kim Ok is a 44-year-old woman who majored in piano at Pyongyang Music and Dancing College, and worked as Kim Jong Il’s secretary during 1980s.
She was first seen in foreigners’ eyes when she went to visit the United States with Vice Marshal Cho Myung Rok in 2000. Then she was seen again as she accompanied Kim Jong Il to China during his secret visit in 2006. She is known to have managed Kim Jong Il’s private finance on a regular basis.
It is known that Kim Jong Il does not think of women to be on a equal level as men. During the first South-North Summit meeting, Kim Jong Il once said to Kim Dae Jung, “All women have to do is to do laundry and take care of children at home.” If Kim Jong Il has a tendency to think of women as an inferior being, would he really let a woman be in charge of his hermit kingdom?
