Kim’s Special Envoy Gives Residents Pause

News of secretary of the Chosun Workers’
Party Choe Ryong Hae’s visit to Russia as a special envoy for Kim Jong Eun has
become a hot topic of debate and criticism among North Korean
residents, the Daily NK has learned.

The visit to Russia follows a 2013 trip by Choe, at that time the director of the Chosun People’s Army Political Department, to China as an envoy for the young leader. These incidents have given many residents reason to question why the leader has failed to follow in the steps
of his father and grandfather and make such a visit personally.

After the announcement of Choe’s trip by all state media outlets,  reactions on the ground have been largely negative, according to sources within the country. 

“Including Russia and China, the Suryeong [Kim Il Sung] and the General
[Kim Jong Il] almost never sent special envoys abroad,” a source in Yangkang Province reported to Daily NK on November 20th.
“Kim Jong Eun sent an envoy just last year, and now that it’s happened again everybody’s talking
about it.”

Kim Il Sung began making diplomatic trips abroad
in 1950, and received heads of states in North Korea and traveled abroad to meet others at their invitation. Sending an envoy in his place was a rare
move for the former leader.

When Kim Jong Il succeeded his father, he
sent delegations of Party members and other administrative officials abroad, but visits to important powerhouse allies, namely Russia and China, are mostly known to have been carried out by the leader himself.

“The whole thing is a propaganda show for
Kim Jong Eun to flaunt his status,” many residents have remarked about the delegation. “He doesn’t have any experience; what kind of country would even deal
with such a young, inexperienced leader?”

Others are dubious that the visit will bring about any changes, “Even though he sent the envoy to China
last year, they haven’t been very accepting of him. What are the odds that Russia
will?” 

According to the source, residents are already predicting that next year, already circulating that
next year, no matter which country, “poor Choe” will be the one to appear on the scene.

A different source in North Hamkyung
Province confirmed these sentiments to be on par with those among the people in
his region, but noted that while in public places, like the market or state-run
enterprises, people are careful with their words, saying, “The young Kim Jong
Eun is engaging in foreign activity with powerful nations.” 

Behind closed doors at home, however,
people are quick to voice their blatant criticism of the situation. “Sending only an envoy is just a
sign that he is basically begging to be recognized as a leader and wants to be
invited by powerful foreign leaders,” they remark among themselves.

“He’s trying to show off his power in being able to designate a high-level Party cadre many years his senior to go abroad at his behest,” many
have speculated, according to the source. “It’s all a ploy to try to dispel criticism that he’s a novice
leader who hasn’t made even a single diplomatic trip abroad while in power.”