Category Archive: Succession

Sep 23

Top DPRK nuclear officials appointed higher positions

Categories:

Kim Jong-Il, Kim Jong-Un, North Korea, Nuclear, Succession

September 23, 2010

Kang Sok Ju, a powerful man who has helped engineer North Korea’s nuclear programme for almost 20 years, was promoted to vice premier in North Korea. Kang worked out details of the 1994 “Agreed Framework” in which the US commited to delivering light water reactors to North Korea in exchange for denuclearization. Kim Kye Gwan takes over Kang’s old post, vice foreign minister, while Ri Yong Ho was also promoted to vice foreign minister. Ri and Kim have been prominent diplomats in the six party talks regarding North Korea’s nuclear disarmament. These promotions of course come ahead of the Worker’s Party conference on September 28th, where key players are speculated to be moved into high ranking positions, possibly to enforce loyalty in the regime and pave the way for a future succession by heir-apparent son of Kim Jong-Il, Kim Jong-Un.

Source: The Washington Post

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/420

Sep 21

Worker’s Party conference to kick off September 28th

Categories:

Kim Jong-Il, Kim Jong-Un, North Korea, Succession

September 21, 2010

North Korea has finally put the speculation (some of it, anyways) to rest. The Conference of the Worker’s Party of Korea will officially launch next Tuesday, September 28th. KCNA, the state-run news outlet for North Korea announced the date yesterday. It is largely speculated that this meeting will move certain high ranking officials into positions of power, and possibly give a seat to Kim Jong-Un, Kim Jong-Il’s youngest son. Such a move would position Kim Jong-Un as a likely replacement for North Korea’s leadership. Kim Jong-Il’s health has been questionable lately, and it would make sense to start grooming the 27 year old Jong-Un for a dual leadership similar to Kim Jong-Il and his father Kim Il-Sung back in the 80s and early 90s. The meeting was previously believed to begin on September 9th, and then September 15th. Media outlets have been buzzing with rumours that recent flood disasters in the North, Kim Jong-Il’s health, lack of public image regarding Kim Jr Jr, or Chinese dissuasion have been responsible for the conference delays.

Source: KCNA

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/412

Sep 14

Worker’s Party Conference delayed due to Kim Jong-Il’s health?

Categories:

Kim Jong-Il, Kim Jong-Un, North Korea, Propaganda, Succession

September 14, 2010

Further speculation on the much anticipated, but still delayed 3rd convening of the Korean Worker’s Party, is blaming Kim Jong-Il’s ailing health for the delay of the meeting. It has also been speculated that we might not see or hear much about heir apparent son Kim Jong-Un, who has long been expected to step out of the shadows and be appointed a high ranking position within the party, to prepare for an eventual leadership succession. The conference was thought to begin as early as September 9th. North Korean state media has reported that KJI has been performing some of his famous “on-site inspections” in different places, which would contradict claims that his health is delaying the KWP meeting. More speculation runs rampant from Reuters, who claim the conference could begin as early as Wednesday.

Source: AFP via Yahoo! News / Reuters via Yahoo! News / DailyNK

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/389

Sep 12

Kim Jong-Un “confirmed” to be with father during China visit

Categories:

China, Kim Jong-Il, Kim Jong-Un, Succession

September 12, 2010

The Mainichi Daily News courtesy of Yonhap is reporting that Kim Jong-Un was indeed present with his father’s delegation to China a few weeks back, when former US president Jimmy Carter was in Pyongyang to free Aijalon Gomes and meet with the Dear Leader. As Jong-Un was travelling as “a member of Kim Jong-Il’s family”, he was not on the official list of attendees. This further supports the speculation that the trip was largely themed around asking China for aid as well as introducing and garnering support for the succession of Kim Jong-Il’s youngest son.

Source: The Mainichi Daily News

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/377

Sep 09

Kim Jong-Un in Pictures

Categories:

Kim Jong-Il, Kim Jong-Un, North Korea, Succession

September 9, 2010

The heir apparent son of Kim Jong-Il is shrouded in mystery. To date, no pictures of him as an adult have been confirmed to exist. I have gathered several images from various sources.

11 years old.

kju_class_photokju_class_photo_zoom
Class photo from 1998.

kju
This is a popular one in news media.

kju_sketch
Here’s a sketch, either drawn by or described by Kim Jong-Il’s former personal sushi chef, who defected to South Korea and has shared much information about KJU and his father’s lifestyle.

kju_highschool
Probably the most recent image currently available, also from his high school days.

Not sure of the source or authenticity on this one. If anyone knows, I’d appreciate a heads up.

kju_probably_not
Often used in Western media. Reported in a Japanese newspaper, but probably not Kim Jong-Un. Most likely a misidentification of Kim Kwang-Nam, an engineer at the ironworks KJI is touring (as reported by The Chosun Ilbo).

And that is all the images of the Youth Captain we have right now. There are many other images circulating that identify Kim Jong-Un, however they are often confused with KJI’s other two sons, Kim Jong-Nam and Kim Jong-Chul. I will be interested in seeing the alleged portrait that can be expected to be hung up in homes and establishments, alongside father and grandfather.

Source: The Chosun Ilbo (1) (2)

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/369

Sep 04

Worker’s Party of Korea meeting begins soon… the rise of Kim Jong-Un?

Categories:

Kim Il-Sung, Kim Jong-Il, Kim Jong-Un, North Korea, Propaganda, Succession

September 4, 2010

The wildly speculated upon meeting of the ruling party of North Korea, the Worker’s Party of Korea, is beginning its rare meeting to reshuffle high ranking officers and possibly set the stage for leadership succession by Kim Jong-Il’s son, Kim Jong-Un. This is the first of such meetings since 1980, when the Dear Leader himself was put into a high ranking post by father-leader Kim Il-Sung. News outlets, the blogosphere and the twitterverse are abuzz with rumours and interpretations as this long anticipated meeting begins.

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/342

Aug 31

Kim’s returns from China – Details come together

Categories:

China, Kim Jong-Il, Kim Jong-Un, North Korea, Succession

August 31, 2010

Kim Jong-Il returns from his sudden trip to China — a snub to former US President Jimmy Carter, who arrived in Pyongyang to secure the release of prisoner Aijalon Gomes at the same time Kim left North Korea. 11 high ranking officials travelled with Kim, including Jang Sung-thaek, the “shadow” 2nd in command, brother-in-law to Kim Jong-Il, and Kim Jong-Un’s appointed caretaker.

It was not officially announced that Kim Jong-Un was with the delegation, but speculators believe he was there to be introduced to the Chinese leadership. This would make sense as his caretaker was there, along with many other high level officials — the meeting could possibly have been to establish trust and elminate Chinese concern in the North Korea leadership succession. If this is the case, it seems likely that China approved of the transition.

Source: DailyNK / The Chosun Ilbo

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/335

Aug 26

Kim Jong-Il visiting China again – with Kim Jong-Un in tow?

Categories:

China, Kim Il-Sung, Kim Jong-Il, Kim Jong-Un, North Korea, Succession

August 26, 2010

Making his second trip to China since May, Kim Jong-Il has departed by train while former US president Jimmy Carter is in Pyongyang. Though details aren’t clear, Kim Sr. is already touring the middle school of his father Kim Il-Sung. South Korean media is reporting that heir apparent Kim Jong-Un is also travelling with Jong-Il, but this and the visit’s intentions are all entirely up for speculation. It is interesting to note that the Worker’s Party meeting, in which Kim Jr. is expected to be tapped for a high position in the party, is less than 2 weeks away. The elusive son is rarely presented in photographs (aside from pictures from his youth), so it will be interesting to see if any media images leak out as a result of this trip.

Jimmy Carter expected to meet Kim Jong-Il personally during his visit to free Aijalon Gomes, so it is also interesting that Kim’s rare trip out of the country coincides with this event.

Source: Yahoo! News via. AFP

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/316

Aug 06

Kim Jong-Un all but official…

Categories:

Kim Il-Sung, Kim Jong-Un, North Korea, Succession

August 6, 2010

Vague references in the ongoing Arirang Mass Games, as well a report from Tokyo seem to indicate that the upcoming September delegates meeting will bring Kim Jong-Un to a high ranking position within the communist party. The 27 year old son of Kim Jong-Il will likely be taking on more of a leadership and policymaking role, and in September 2012 will probably be officially tapped as successor to North Korea’s leadership. And we still don’t have any good pics of him!

Source: Chosun Ilbo / Google News


Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/209

Jul 28

Kim Jong-Il funnels money to son

Categories:

Economy, Kim Jong-Il, Kim Jong-Un, North Korea, Succession

July 28, 2010

Open Radio for North Korea in Seoul is reporting that the Dear Leader is quietly transferring his personal wealth to his son, the inevitable successor to the North Korea leadership. Kim Jon-Un, age 27 is expected to be tapped as successor in an upcoming September meeting of delegates of top officials. I suspect we will be learning a lot more about the “Youth Captain” in the coming days and weeks.

Source: Google News via AFP

Permanent link to this article: http://www.openingupnorthkorea.com/archives/94

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