What's Going On in North Korea...?
What's going on in North Korea…?
There have been unprecedented signs of changes in North Korea, a country that has maintained its Confucian-based hereditary succession system and cult of personality for more than half a century.
The Russian news agency Itar-Tass reported Nov. 16 that portraits of the country’s leader Kim Jong-il had been removed from some public buildings. Then on Nov. 18, the Japanese news agency Radiopress, which monitors North Korea’s media, reported that the country’s official news agency dropped the honorific “Dear Leader” from its report of Kim’s visit to an army unit. Some foreign press also made a series of reports on the removal of Kim’s portraits.
This is a strange since there has previously been perpetual idolization of Kim Jong-il and his father. In fact, rumors are flying that there has been a coup and Kim has even been removed from power.
What do these signs mean? First, rumors over Kim and his father demise have surfaced for decades, so on one level I see this latest round as nothing new.
Next, South Korean government officials feel that there is no indication that there has been trouble in Kim’s draconian grasp on power. Some experts think the portraits of Kim absent in public places where foreigners visit were removed on orders from the North Korean leader. Itar-Tass suggests Kim may have judged that hanging his portraits alongside his late father Kim Il-sung could work as a disadvantage to him.
One thought is that if the North Korean leader is considering changing his status, which is the most sensitive issue in North Korea, it could affect the situation on the Korean Peninsula in the future.
Finally, I will continue to monitor the situation in North Korea, which continues to maintain its enigma status.
There have been unprecedented signs of changes in North Korea, a country that has maintained its Confucian-based hereditary succession system and cult of personality for more than half a century.
The Russian news agency Itar-Tass reported Nov. 16 that portraits of the country’s leader Kim Jong-il had been removed from some public buildings. Then on Nov. 18, the Japanese news agency Radiopress, which monitors North Korea’s media, reported that the country’s official news agency dropped the honorific “Dear Leader” from its report of Kim’s visit to an army unit. Some foreign press also made a series of reports on the removal of Kim’s portraits.
This is a strange since there has previously been perpetual idolization of Kim Jong-il and his father. In fact, rumors are flying that there has been a coup and Kim has even been removed from power.
What do these signs mean? First, rumors over Kim and his father demise have surfaced for decades, so on one level I see this latest round as nothing new.
Next, South Korean government officials feel that there is no indication that there has been trouble in Kim’s draconian grasp on power. Some experts think the portraits of Kim absent in public places where foreigners visit were removed on orders from the North Korean leader. Itar-Tass suggests Kim may have judged that hanging his portraits alongside his late father Kim Il-sung could work as a disadvantage to him.
One thought is that if the North Korean leader is considering changing his status, which is the most sensitive issue in North Korea, it could affect the situation on the Korean Peninsula in the future.
Finally, I will continue to monitor the situation in North Korea, which continues to maintain its enigma status.
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