On the 8th, North Korea held a
meeting of the expanded Central Committee Politburo, during which a resolution
was passed relieving Jang Sung Taek of all his posts. Now the North Korean
people are officially aware that Jang has been dismissed for opposing Kim Jong
Eun’s policy, and the specific nature of the revelations is causing widespread shock.
In particular, the dismissal of Jang, who
was supposed to be assisting the young Kim Jong Eun in his rise to power, is
raising concerns among the people that the North Korean regime could become
unstable.
A source from North Hamkyung Province told
Daily NK earlier today, “This rumor has been doing the rounds that people near
Jang Sung Taek were executed, and people have been wondering whether Jang would be
done away with, too. Now the whole city is reeling at the details of Jang’s expulsion
that they showed on Chosun Central Television and put in Rodong Sinmun.”
“Jang Sung Taek is a familiar face for
people, and one of the most trusted as well. He watched over the Marshal (Kim
Jong Eun), and is even his uncle. People thought that if there were ever to be a
problem within the Party Jang Sung Taek would play a big role, so the fact that he
has been disposed of in a purge like this is causing great discomfort.”
“People say that they thought[Kim Jong
Eun’s] political style was a bit different from his father’s, but he’s no
different; just like his father, if he feels threatened he is even prepared to
attack his family,’” the source said.
“We assumed that the captain of the Kim Jong
Eun regime was Jang, and that the young and inexperienced Kim Jong Eun was
getting a lot of political advice from his uncle.There is now the rumor that
this incident occurred because Jang went against the orders of Kim on economic
reform,” he added. In fact, today’s Rodong Sinmun
denunciation of Jang’s actions contains this information.
A second source added, “Upon hearing the
news about Jang’s close associates being executed, even women with no interest in
politics are talking about how the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and Kim
Jong Eun truly is his father’s son. Kim Jong Il also ruthlessly executed his
own family [Kim Song Ae] when it got in his way.”
The source predicted, “From now on the
Party bulletin [RodongSinmun] will strengthen the case against Jang Sung Taek, and
there will be lectures and meetings about it. In Party and workers’
organizations and People’s Units, this will be generalized to try and halt
ideological drift and internal instability.”
