When the USSR chose Kim Il Sung to be the
first leader of northern Korea, it did not represent the culmination of an
intricate strategic plan. Rather, Kim seemed like someone who would readily fall
under Soviet influence, and thus acquiesce to Soviet demands. That was why, on
October 10th, 1945, Stalin dispatched 66 officers trained in Khabarovsk,
led by Kim, to receive political authority from the Soviet Red Army.
Stalin did not even contemplate uniting the
Korean Peninsula under a socialist system at the end of World War Two. He was
content to hold sway over the regime that lay north of the 38th parallel, and in any case wished to avoid a military conflagration with the United
States. Kim Il Sung did not figure in Stalin’s plans: he was of lowly rank, and had no political
or military influence. Stalin’s real interest was in Cho Man Sik.
Cho was an eminent figure in
the area at the time; however, he was also a zealous democrat. In addition, he
strongly opposed the Soviet presence in Korea. He couldn’t see why the Korean
people couldn’t manage their own country, and wished to see foreigners leave.
He continued criticizing Soviet policy in North Korea right up to the time of
his disappearance (into a North Korean prison, where he is thought to have died or been killed).
In Cho’s absence, Kim rose to prominence. And yet, he was a young man of just 33 at the time. There were more distinguished persons
around. So why did Stalin choose Kim to take the lead? The question
becomes all the more puzzling when we consider the fact that most Chinese leaders,
including Mao Zedong, were then largely unaware of Kim’s existence. Mao’s own preference
for the leader of northern Korea would have been someone from the Yunnan
Faction.
However, Stalin did choose Kim. The
most persuasive reason for his decision is that Kim’s lack of experience and ability
made the Soviet leadership more confident that they could control him. This logic
acquires additional persuasive weight when one ponders Cho Man Sik’s intense resentment
of Soviet interference.
Because Kim Il Sung lacked authority and
capability, he was the most malleable of all the available candidates. He had
also received Soviet training, and was not under meaningful Maoist influence.
The Soviet selection was certainly not derived from a complex strategic
calculation concerning full control of the Korean Peninsula. Instead, Kim
represented a pragmatic decision designed to extend Stalin’s direct influence
within northern Korea alone. One can say that Kim Il Sung’s lack of ability is what led to his installation as leader.
* Views expressed in Guest Columns do not necessarily reflect those of Daily NK. This Guest Column first appeared in Korean on July 4th, 2014.
