Close watch needed on sudden change in NK
The country's intelligence agency triggered a controversy by reporting that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has partially delegated his authority to his younger sister Kim Yo-jong. The National Intelligence Agency (NIS) also said Kim was sharing some of his power with close aides.
Lawmakers belonging to the National Assembly Intelligence Committee quoted the NIS as saying the aides include Pak Pong-ju, vice chairman of the State Affairs Commission, and the new premier Kim Tok-hun who will be in charge of economic affairs. Others are Choe Pu-il and Ri Pyong-chol, who were tasked with domestic and military affairs. Kim Yo-jong, currently first vice director of the Workers' Party's Central Committee, will be in charge of overall affairs with South Korea and the United States, according to the NIS.
The disclosure came during a closed-door briefing to the Assembly committee, Aug. 20. The lawmakers quoted the NIS as saying Kim Jong-un's recent move, however, had nothing to do with his health, adding the partial power transfer did not necessarily mean Kim had picked his sister as his successor.
The NIS said Kim was apparently sharing power to relieve him of some of the stress entailed in controlling state affairs and to avoid responsibility in the event of policy failures. Kim has been ruling the reclusive nation for nine years since 2011 following the sudden death of his father Kim Jong-il. Kim Yo-jong has continued to raise her voice on issues related to South Korea including the threat to destroy the inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesung.
The agency's explanation seems feasible as Pyongyang acknowledged its shortcomings in economic affairs; in particular the North has been complaining of the ongoing sanctions imposed by the United States. In addition, it has been suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic and heavy rain, which have wreaked havoc on its economy. Kim Jong-un said his country faces “unexpected and inevitable challenges ahead” and will come up with a package of measures to heal the economic debacle early next year.
Though the NIS denied Kim had health problems, some experts raise this possibility, citing the rareness of power delegation in North Korea. For instance, former lawmaker and North Korea expert Jang Sung-min asserted Kim Jong-un has been in a coma, unable “to rule” the North. “Kim's leadership has been missing and the delegation of power cannot be imagined in such a country,” he said in a statement on Facebook.
It remains to be seen whether the power delegation in the North is taking place as the NIS claims. But we also need to keep a close watch on the possibility of any sudden change in the reclusive state such as a collapse of Kim Jong-un, which will have a huge impact upon regional security.