Leadership and Succession in the DPRK
What does this mean? Questions of Regime Change
Kim Jong Un with the Korean People's Army
Although there may be some uncertainty around the world with the death of Kim Jong Il and the succession of a new leader, the DPRK is sure of its own course for the future. Due to the 70th celebration in 2012 of Kim Jong Il’s birthday and the 100th birthday of deceased Kim Il Sung, 2012 has been seen as a very important year for the country. Peter M. Beck, writer for the Korea Herold, states that the DPRK government was looking forward to continuing to bring about a "strong and prosperous nation in 2012," (65). Meaning, the nation's past two decades of extreme famine, economic decline, and battered foreign relations will in time improve with this new celebration of Jong’s 70 years. Interestingly enough, 2012 came to be the first year the new leader would be trying on his leadership suit. In order to ease concerns about the possible collapse of a regime that is often taken into account when any dictator dies, the Korean state media told the world to hold their horses. The Central Committee of Korean Workers' Party Newspaper, Rongdong Sinmun, clarified this for the people and the world. "We will change nothing. Our leader comrade Kim Jung Un declares in front of a ten million strong army and people, in front of the whole world, that we will never take another path, another choice. It is unthinkable" (Isozaki). Therefore, the Workers' Party intends to remain strong and intact as one of the prime influences of the state. At the same time, the question remains as to how the regime will go about improving the economy and conditions for ordinary people if they change nothing. Realistically, some change must occur.
Leader-in-Cheif and the Politburo
Kim Jong Il and his son pose with members of the party.
When many think of the leader of North Korea, they think of a solitary dictator who runs the whole show. We also assume that when a new leader comes into power, it is just handed to him. Although some of this may be true for Kim Jung Un, at the same time, the North Korean leader possesses his power due to him being the senior commander of all the government's branches. These branches usually include the Workers' Party of Korea and the National Defense Commission. Kim Jong Il worked years to gradually gain these positions by working his way up through the ranks and gaining promotions. When his father died, he was already fairly high up in order to grasp his legitimate rule. However, Kim Jung Un is young and inexperienced and has not had the proper amount of time to work his way up in rank through training and experience. Therefore, in the couple years before his father's passing and eventually when his father did pass, the succession was rushed and forced. Ultimately, Kim Jung Un does not hold the highest of all positions in the government yet. He still relies very much on the advice of the elites around him.
The next several years will entail his efforts to secure those positions. On December 30 2011, Kim Jung Un became supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army. However, there were still more positions for him to fill. In April of 2012, he became the first secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Chairman of the National Defense Commission (Ahn). Although all of these may sound high up there, the young leader is still trying to work towards his complete legitimacy for absolute rule. The Politburo, or those who are top leaders of the WPK and NDC branches, are still working closely with the leader on important state decisions.
Considering Korean culture highly stresses hereditary relationships, oftentimes, bloodline is more important than actual experience. In North Korea, grandchildren of political undesirables from fifty years ago are still being punished for the disagreements or crimes of their family members (Beck). Similarly, the bloodline of the succession is accepted, due in part to the belief that traits will be passed down from generation to generation.
Below is the first speech Kim Jong Un gave to his people at the 100th birthday celebration of founder Kim Il Sung.
The next several years will entail his efforts to secure those positions. On December 30 2011, Kim Jung Un became supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army. However, there were still more positions for him to fill. In April of 2012, he became the first secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Chairman of the National Defense Commission (Ahn). Although all of these may sound high up there, the young leader is still trying to work towards his complete legitimacy for absolute rule. The Politburo, or those who are top leaders of the WPK and NDC branches, are still working closely with the leader on important state decisions.
Considering Korean culture highly stresses hereditary relationships, oftentimes, bloodline is more important than actual experience. In North Korea, grandchildren of political undesirables from fifty years ago are still being punished for the disagreements or crimes of their family members (Beck). Similarly, the bloodline of the succession is accepted, due in part to the belief that traits will be passed down from generation to generation.
Below is the first speech Kim Jong Un gave to his people at the 100th birthday celebration of founder Kim Il Sung.
Key Facts of Leadership in the DPRK
Ri Yong Ho with the leader.
- Ri Yong Ho is the Chief of General staff for the Korean People's Army and is seen in many pictures with the leader. It can be said that he has a great influence on him.
- Kim Jong Un's uncle, Jang Song-taek, husband to Kim Jong Il's sister, holds a number of top positions, including vice chairman of the NDC, is a 4 star general, and controls internal security. It is said that, while the young ruler is trying to gain experience, these two influence him a great deal (Beck).
- In the years after Kim Jong Il selected his son as the successor, some members of the Politburo and NDC were forced to step down in order to make way for more compliant officials who agreed with the succession (Ahn).
- In January 2012, Japanese newspaper, Mainichi Shimbun reported that the new leader at a meeting told his top officials to, without worry of offending, "provide suggestions on how to improve economy without worrying if it sounds Capitalist" (Lim). The same report says Kim Jong Un expressed a need to help ordinary citizens of Korea.
- According to the Yonhap News Agency which is based in South Korea, the new leader has at least four people accompanying him when he visits different places. This is in contrast to his father's entourage of 10-12 people.
- The way Dear Leaders maintain their absolute power in the DPRK is by securing three main positions: highest rank in the military and NDC, and the highest position in the Korean Workers' Party.