SEOUL – North Korea’s iron ruler Kim Jong-il has anointed his youngest son as successor to lead the isolated state, whose collapsing economy and bid to become a nuclear weapons power pose major threats to the region.
After months of speculation, the state KCNA news agency announced yesterday that the untested Kim Jong-un, thought to be in his late 20s, had been made second in command to his father at the ruling Workers’ Party’s powerful Central Military Commission. Rising with him were the ailing Kim Jong-il’s sister and her husband, creating a powerful triumvirate ready to take over the family dynasty that has ruled North Korea since its founding after the second World War.
“It is another step towards a new power structure which will consist of Kim Jong-un, a young and inexperienced dictator, and two people – his aunt and her husband – who will be making all real political decisions while mentoring the young leader,” said Andrei Lankov, a North Korea expert at Kookmin University.
“A figurehead and a couple of powerful regents, if you like.” The young Kim, whose existence has been a secret even in North Korea until this week, was on Monday made a general in one of the world’s largest armies. He was also appointed a Central Committee member at the state’s biggest political meeting for 30 years.
KCNA also reported yesterday that Jong-un was photographed along with other participants at the conference. Other than a photo, possibly two, of him as a child, the world has no idea what he looks like. The meeting, attended by Kim Jong-il, also made the leader’s sister and her husband members of the political bureau, the second highest political body, and elevated long-time loyal family aides to its supreme leadership body.
Kim Jong-il (68), is believed to have suffered a stroke in 2008. But he showed no sign of losing his grip on power and was reappointed on Tuesday as secretary-general of the Workers’ Party. A stable succession will be a relief to its economically powerful neighbours, China, South Korea and Japan.
But regional powers will be watching for any signs of a change in the policies that have driven the North’s economy to near ruin and potential collapse. That would put a huge burden on China and, especially South Korea, which would end up with much of the cost of absorbing a likely flood of refugees. They will also be looking for any change in the state’s efforts to build a nuclear arsenal that has been central to forcing aid out of the outside world even though it has meant sanctions have largely cut it off from the global economy.
Experts are sceptical of any new dawn. “Even with a new leader, North Korea is not likely to give up its nuclear ambitions,” said Anh Yinhay of Korea University. “But the North faces a dilemma – while keeping power within the family, the North needs to find a way to overcome its economic crisis. “They have no choice but to rely on aid from other countries, and they may try to use their nuclear weapons as leverage during negotiations.” – (Reuters)