During the third meeting of the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly yesterday, North Korea’s highest legislative authority appointed Jang Sung Taek to the position of vice chairman of the National Defense Commission at Kim Jong Il’s suggestion. In addition, Kim Young Il ceased to be Cabinet premier, replaced by Choi Young Rim, while six new vice premiers and a raft of ministerial positions were confirmed.
This particular SPA meeting attracted an unusual degree of media attention because it was the second such meeting this year. The SPA generally meets once every two years, and occasions of multiple meetings in any given year are exceedingly rare.
Prior to the meeting many North Korea experts predicted it would be used to execute an executive reshuffle and complete the institutional framework for the succession of Kim Jong Eun; in addition, it was assumed that the meeting would place its rubber stamp on legislation arising from Kim Jong Il’s visit to China in May and follow-up measures to the Cheonan incident.
Now, in retrospect, experts concur that the meeting was indeed focused on the succession. Jang Sung Taek becoming vice chairman of the National Defense Commission and the appointment of a broad array of vice premiers and ministers point to it having been the meeting which above all prepared the ground for the post-Kim Jong Il era.
Jang Sung Taek was only appointed to the National Defense Commission in the first meeting of the 12th SPA held in April last year shortly after the last delegates’ election. Therefore, he has taken just one year and two months to rise to vice chairman. Kang Neung Su, North Korea’s Culture Minister, the man who is in charge of propaganda, has also risen to vice premier in the same timeframe.
Kim Yeon Su, a professor at National Defense University, agreed that the meeting was intended for the “replacement of personnel to complete the succession system.”
“Finally,” Kim said, “it appears that the Kim Jong Eun succession system is being formulated.”
In addition, Cheong Seong Chang, a senior researcher at the Sejong Institute, added, “(The SPA meeting) was held to put in place the professionalism to complete North Korea’s goals for this year, namely to improve the people’s quality of life. This is also closely related to the succession.”
The experts saw the appointment of Choi Young Rim to Cabinet premier as the replacement of an influential figure, Kim Young Il, following the failed currency redenomination.
Related to the removal of Kim young Il from the position, Professor Kim noted, “I think it was to eliminate a source of trouble vis a vis the resistance of people to the failed currency redenomination.”
Cheong added that since Choi Young Rim was already a member of the Politburo and also chief secretary of the Pyongyang Municipal Committee of the Central Committee, the change mostly reflects the replacement of an influential figure.
Experts note that the designation of Jang Sung Taek as vice chairman was announced publicly as being “at Kim Jong Il’s suggestion”. Therefore, they suggest it looks like Kim has deliberately moved to empower Jang Sung Taek.
Since Jang’s promotion comes days after the mysterious death of Lee Jeh Kang on the 2nd of this month, experts see it as highly symbolic. Lee used be Jang’s rival, so now it appears to be time for Jang to dominate, according to their predications.
Professor Kim commented, “The fact that Kim Jong Il appointed Jang Sung Taek to the vice chairmanship implies that Kim is shouldering a considerable burden thanks to the succession system. If Kim Jong Il could have controlled the situation fully,” Kim suggested, “he would not have empowered Jang Sung Taek with such tremendous authority. This move is a request that Jang help to hand over authority to his successor.”
Cheong agreed, adding, “Following the death of Lee Jeh Kang, Jang Sung Taek’s role has been extended.”
Meanwhile, many experts also agree that the enhancement of Jang’s role may be partly to arouse a sense of crisis in the executive ranks. Sanctions applied by the South Korean government and the international community may be biting, and since Jang used to be in control of the judiciary, prosecution and general tasks of the People’s Security Ministry in his role as director of the Ministry of Administration of the Central Party, this promotion may have been based on the need to govern the North Korean elite and residents with an iron fist.
Cheong think so. He said, “The designation of Jang Sung Taek reflects North Korea’s crisis sentiment following the Cheonan incident.”
