Kim Jong Un Hosts New Year’s Banquet

The Mokran House in the central party area in the central district of Pyongyang (Photo: Google image)

Kim Jong Un hosted a New Year’s banquet on 23 January (Monday) for members of the central leadership at the Mokran (Peony) House.  KCNA reports:

A state reception was given at the Mokran House on Monday evening to mark the lunar New Year.

The dear respected Kim Jong Un provided this significant reception, associated with benevolence of leader Kim Jong Il, on the lunar New Year’s Day when the Korean people are greeting with ardent yearning for the leader.

Present there were Kim Yong Nam, Choe Yong Rim, Kim Yong Chun, Kim Ki Nam, Choe Thae Bok, Yang Hyong Sop and officials of party, armed forces and power bodies, social organizations, ministries and national institutions, men and officers of the Korean People’s Army and the Korean People’s Internal Security Forces, officials in the fields of science, education, culture and arts, public health and media and persons of merit.

Choe Thae Bok said in an address that thanks to Kim Jong Il’s noble love for the nation lunar New Year’s Day came to serve as an important occasion in instilling the Korean people with national pride and honor and patriotism.

The social traits of promoting excellent national traditions has been established in the country and the heyday of national culture in the era of Songun ushered in under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il who guided the work to develop the heritage of national culture as required by the demand of the era, the speaker stressed.

A woman (annotated) crosses a procession of the DPRK central leadership at the final reported visit to KJI's casket bier on 29 December 2011 (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Japanese press reported late last week that Kim Jong Un married a woman who was born in 1981, making her two to three years older than Jong Un and his so-called “big sister” wife.  The young woman, a native of Cho’ngjin, North Hamgyo’ng, is the daughter of a college professor and nurse.  She attended KIS University, where she is currently enrolled in graduate coursework to become a party cadre.  Due to her academic background and her parents’ exemplary party life, she was selected in 2008 as Jong Un’s fiancee.  The engagement was initiated by Kim Kyong Hui and Jang Song Taek.  Mr. Jang  submitted the woman’s name and background to Kim Jong Il, who approved the marriage.

Korea Times reports:

New North Korean leader Kim Jong-un married a woman some two years his elder in an arrangement made by his powerful regents, a report said this week.

Japan’s Weekly Post quoted North Korean defectors as saying Kim married the woman, a graduate of the top Kim Il Sung University in 2010 after the matchmaking by his aunt and uncle, who are said to be guiding the young leader into power.

The report comes as the world continues to watch for clues about the little-known leader, who was thrust into the spotlight following the death of his father, Kim Jong Il, last month.

Analysts say that Kim Kyong-hiu, the late ruler’s younger sister, and her husband Jang Song- thaek, along with other powerful military and party figures are leading the country by committee as Jong-un, thought to be no older than 30 consolidates his support.

According to the report, the young woman was chosen as her parents were loyal party members. The defectors also said she may have been picked for her resemblance to the young Kim’s mother, Ko Yong-hui and for her strong university performance.

Though often referred to as a mistress, Ko is thought to have been the love of the late Kim’s life and is the mother of his three youngest children including the heir. She is said to have been treated with “first lady” status in the North.

Meanwhile, on the way back to Pyongyang for the banquet, Jong Un visited a machine factory.  He was accompanied by Jang Song Taek, Party Secretary and NDC Member, Pak To Chun and a Korean People’s Army [KPA] retinue consisting of Party Central Military Commission members Gen. Kim Myong Kuk and Gen. Kim Won Hong as well as Gen. Pak Jae Gyong and Lt. Gen. Ri Tu Song.  KCNA reports:

Seeing new type modern machines produced by the plant, he acquainted himself in detail with their mechanism, performance and technical specifications.

He was very pleased that the plant has produced in a short period machines helpful to building a thriving nation.

New machines are not only very high in their performance but look better in shape as compared with those built in the past, he said, praising the officials, workers, scientists and technicians of the plant for producing Korean-style modern machines.

He gave instructions to the plant.

He called upon the plant to produce more modern machines suited to the specific conditions of the country on the basis of the achievements already made.

He underscored the need to work hard to increase the production of new machines and improve their quality.

It is more important to build a large quantity of machines in terms of indices and produce even a single machine effectively so that it may pay off in practice than to produce trial machines and boast them, he stressed.

It is very gratifying that the workers, scientists and technicians of the plant pledged themselves to build more modern machines true to the behests of leader Kim Jong Il, he noted, earnestly telling them that if they attain their high production goal, he will join them in visiting the leader who lies in state and making a report of victory and loyalty.

Going round various places of the plant, he acquainted himself in detail with the supply service for its employees. He showed warm loving care and benevolence for them.

There is no nothing to spare for the workers, scientists and technicians of the plant, he said, calling upon the officials to take good care of their living before production.

Making the rounds of the Kangsong Health Complex being built by the plant itself, he showed loving care for it.

Kim Jong Un Visits KPA Large Combined Unit #671

KPA Supreme Commander Kim Jong Un inspects bed linen during a tour of residential quarters of KPA Large Combined Unit #671 (Photo: KCNA)

Following up two visits to Korean People’s Army [KPA] units, DPRK media reported on 22 January (Sunday) that KPA Supreme Commander Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) visited KPA Unit #671.  Yonhap reports:

North Korea’s new leader Kim Jong-un made yet another visit to a military unit, his fifth this month, according to a state media report Sunday, as the young successor tries to consolidate his power after the death of his father Kim Jong-il.

Kim visited the Command of Large Combined Unit 671 and “waved back to the enthusiastically cheering service personnel” before having his photo taken with them, the official (North) Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

“He stressed the need to further improve the command and management of the unit and establish steel-like military discipline through the concerted efforts of the commanding officers and soldiers and thus fully demonstrate the militant spirit and appearance as the most elite revolutionary forces,” KCNA said.

“He expressed his expectation and belief that the servicepersons of the large combined unit would display the heroic mettle in the sacred service to defend the country,” it continued.

The report marked the fifth visit Kim has made to a military unit this month and suggests the young leader, believed to be in his late 20s, is seeking to solidify his grip on power in a nation where military backing is considered the backbone of the country’s autocratic rule.

Kim rose to power last month after his father Kim Jong-il died on Dec. 17.

Kim Jong Un (7th L) stands for a commemorative photograph during his visit to KPA Large Combined Unit #671. Also seen in attendance are Jang Song Taek (3rd R), Gen. Kim Wo'n-hong (4th R) and Gen. Kim Myong Kuk (4th L) (Photo: KCNA)

He was accompanied by CMC Members Gen. Kim Myong Kuk and Gen. Kim Won Hong, as well as his uncle, NDC Vice-chairman Jang Song Taek.  Jang Song Taek’s last public appearance was his attendance of a music and dance performance at the 25 April House of Culture, which was reported on 9 January.

Kim Jong Un waves to service members and officers at a commemorative photograph session during his visit to KPA Large Combined Unit #671 (Photo: KCNA)

Kim Jong Un walks with service members of KPA Unit Large Combined Unit #671 (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Kim Jong Un visits a study room during his visit to KPA Large Combined Unit #671 (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Kim Jong Un Visits KPA Unit #3870 and KPA Air Force Unit #354

Kim Jong Un (14th L) stands for a commemorative photograph with service members and officers of KPA Unit #3870 (Photo: KCNA)

With DPRK media claiming that he directed the May 2009 underground nuclear test, Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) was reported to have visited two Korean People’s Army [KPA] units.  Kim Jong Un’s last reported public appearance was his visit to KPA Unit #169 in South Hwanghae Province.   KCNA reports on KJU’s visit to KPA Air Force [KPAF] #354:

After acquainting himself with the unit’s combat duty, he guided the flight training of pilots.

After watching the courageous training which demonstrated the might of the air force, he praised the pilots for their good performance. He was greatly satisfied with a very high level of control of warplanes such as taking off and landing and bold and skillful movement. He was very pleased that all the pilots have been prepared as able pilots of fighters.

He repeatedly praised the pilots for their success in performing training duties before taking a photo taken with them.

He looked round a flight hall, bedroom of pilots, mess hall, soldiers’ hall and other places of the unit to take warm care of the training and living of the pilots.

After watching pilots undergo training on the table with deep attention, he expressed satisfaction over the fact that they are using their brains, thinking and putting everything into practice so that they may win any battle by skillfully using Korean-style fighting methods and tactics in keeping with the trend of the changed warfare mode and combat action regulations of the enemies and the trend of the development of arms and equipment.

After being informed that the pilots are flying to devotedly defend the headquarters of the revolution awake or asleep, singing the song that the sun is over the wings of their planes and Pyongyang is beneath them, he said that Hero Kil Yong Jo left a very good song. He told all pilots to cherish his soul.

While watching sketches done by soldiers, he said that their skills are as good as the professional painters’ and the army has many talents and reserve painters.

At the pilots’ bedroom visited by leader Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un sat on a bed without any ceremony and kindly asked if they did not feel any inconvenience on their beds.

At the mess hall, he underscored the need to provide good diet to the pilots as their mental and physical burden is heavy, saying that for them there is nothing to spare.

Kim Jong Un who visited the unit, carrying with him a freshwater fish, weighing more than 60 kg, presented by people, showed such loving care for pilots as teaching how to cook it for them to taste it.

He looked round a company under the unit to take deep care of the servicemen’s life.

He was pleased with the warm bedroom. At an educational room he listened to the song sung by the company leader and political instructor by using DVD and sent applause to them.

He called at a wash-cum-bath house and learned about where water was coming from and personally took its temperature.

Before leaving the company, he asked the company leader and political instructor to take good care of the soldiers’ living like their eldest brothers and sisters and revolutionary comrades-in-arms, adding he would like to leave the soldiers to them.

KPA Supreme Commander and acting chairman of the Party Central Military Commission Kim Jong Un (R) inspects a foodstuffs container during a visit to KPA Unit #3870. In attendance are Gen. Kim Myong Kuk (L) and Lt. Gen Ri Tu Song (2nd R) (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Kim Jong Un (L) greets a worker at a mess hall at KPA Unit #3870 (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Kim Jong Un (15th L) stands for a commemorative photograph during his visit to KPA Air Force Unit #354 (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Shortly after this visit, Jong Un was reported to have visited KPA Unit #3870.  KCNA reports:

He learned about the unit’s performance of duty and training.

Praising the unit for having prepared all its service personnel as a-match-for-a hundred combatants through the intensified training in hearty response to the Party’s slogan “Training Is Also a Battle!” he highly appreciated their militant spirit of training, the spirit of thinking of preparations for combat only awake or asleep.

He set forth the tasks to be carried out to bolster the combat capability of the unit.

He looked round the soldiers’ hall, mess hall and various other places to take deep care of their living.

He dropped in at a library and stressed the need to send more must books to the soldiers. Once they finish their service in the army, they should be let to acquire the same ample knowledge as college or university graduates’, he noted, underscoring the need to prepare all service personnel as Songun revolutionary fighters equipped with the spirit of devotedly defending the socialist homeland.

He praised the unit for splendidly building the soldiers’ hall and constructing its facade well.

He personally tasted bean paste produced by the unit itself and learned about the use of the agro-stock farm and the general processing center built by it and its other supply service facilities. He repeatedly praised its commanding officers for doing a lot of work by fully displaying the revolutionary spirit of self-reliance.

Walking the compound of the barracks, he said the service personnel of the unit successfully spruced up the barracks and areas around it as required by the Songun era and as befitting the creators of the revolutionary soldier culture in the Songun era.

This unit set an example not only in combat and political training but in all aspects including command and management of the unit and its supply service, he noted, adding all the service personnel glorifying their precious youth after turning out to defend the country are excellent revolutionaries and precious treasures of the country.

Noting that such traits of revolutionary comradeship whereby commanding officers love their soldiers like their real younger brothers while the latter follow the former like their eldest brothers and sisters and help and lead each other along are in fuller bloom, he said that this is the proud tradition and traits of the heroic KPA, the army of the party and the revolution.

Kim Jong Un watches a presentation during his visit to KPA Air Force Unit #354. Seen in attendance behind him are: Gen. Kim Myong Kuk (R; seated); Gen. Kim Won Hong (2nd R; standing) and Lt. Gen. Ri Tu Song (3rd R; seated) (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

Kim Jong Un greets pilots during his visit to KPA Air Force Unit #354 (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

According to KCNA, at both of these visits KJU was  accompanied by Party Central Military Commission members Gen. Kim Myong Kuk (Chief, General Staff Operations Bureau) and Gen. Kim Won Hong (Chief, Military Security Command), as well as Lt. Gen. Ri Tu Song.  VMar Ri Yong Ho and Gen. Pak Jae Gyong, who visited KPA Unit #169 with KJU seemed to have returned to Pyongyang.  Interestingly on his visit to the air force unit, Jong Un was not reported to have been accompanied by Gen. Ri Pyong Chol, a CMC member and commander of the Air Force.

Finally, KCNA reported KJU’s visits on 20 January 2012.  Remarks attributed to Jong Un in both news items focus on family, specifically siblings.  At his visit to Unit #3870 Jong Un requests the commanders “to take good care of the soldiers’ living like their eldest brothers and sisters and revolutionary comrades-in-arms” and at his visit to the air force unit Jong Un talks about how commanders  ”love their soldiers like their real younger brothers while the latter follow the former like their eldest brothers and sisters and help and lead each other along are in fuller bloom.”  Since the death of Kim Jong Il, DPRK media has emphasized the concept that DPRK citizens live as “a big socialist family.”  However, both the date of the news reports and the references to “elder” and younger siblings may be a response to the 20 January release of a book of exchanges between a Japanese journalist and Jong Un’s oldest brother**, Kim Jong Nam.

Members of KPA Unit #3870 greet Kim Jong Un (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)

**Although Jong Nam and Jong Un are technically half or step-brothers, in interviews and other interactions Jong Nam has consistently referred to Jong Un as “my brother”

Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai Performance at Ponghwa Art Theater

Members of the DPRK central leadership view the P'ibada Opera Troupe's performance of Butterfly Lovers with PRC Ambassador to the DPRK Liu Hongcai (3rd L). Seen in this image are Kim Yong Il (L), Yang Hyong Sop (2nd L), Kim Yong Nam (3rd R), Kim Ki Nam (2nd R) and Kang Sok Ju (R) (Photo: PRC Embassy in the DPRK)

The P’ibada Opera Troupe gave a “homecoming performance” of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai (Butterfly Lovers) at Ponghwa Art Theater in western Pyongyang on Friday, 20 January.  KCNA reports:

The opera based on the famous Chinese folklore is another flower of the DPRK-China friendship, provided under the care of General Secretary Kim Jong Il.

The opera had been performed 30 odd times in 12 cities of China, including Beijing, Daqing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Qingdao from Oct. 25 last year to Jan. 7 this year, causing a hot wind of Korean opera in vast Chinese territory.

Chinese media and Internet homepages vied with each other to report about performances of this opera, featuring the wisdom of Kim Jong Il who initiated its creation and guided the work to perfect it and stirring up the heated atmosphere of praising the great man.

In particular the world public was deeply moved at the touching fact that the Workers’ Party of Korea allowed the opera performance to continue even after Kim Jong Il passed away, a great loss to the Korean nation, and at the ideological and moral traits of the Korean artistes who successfully ensured its performances to the last by turning their sorrow into strength and courage, true to his behests.

The performances registered another significant chapter in the annals of the DPRK-China friendship. They were a vivid manifestation of the solidness of this friendship further deepened by Kim Jong Il through his energetic activities.

Enjoying the homecoming performance were Kim Yong Nam, Kim Ki Nam and other senior party and state officials, officials of the Foreign Ministry and the Korean Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, creators and artistes, journalists and editors.

Also present on invitation were Ambassador Liu Hongcai and staff members of the Chinese embassy here and Chinese guests.

The performance was acclaimed by the audience as it strikingly displayed the inexhaustible potentials of the Juche arts advancing on the world level while achieving its remarkable development by the unique Korean way of creation.

Ponghwa Art Theater in Hyongjesan District in west Pyongyang, not far from the Ministry of People's Security (Photo: Google image)

There were several DPRK-PRC interactions around this performance.  PRC Ambassador to the DPRK Liu Hongcai had separate meetings with Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA] Presidium President Kim Yong Nam and Kwon Hyok Bong, deputy (vice) director of the party’s Propaganda and Agitation Department.  It remains to be seen whether the PRC Embassy will host a banquet for Lunar New Year and if one is held whether Kim Jong Un–who has previously interacted with embassy officials–will attend.

Party Vice Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Kwon Hyok Bong (L) meets with PRC Ambassador to the DPRK Liu Hongcai (R) (Photo: PRC Embassy in the DPRK)

PRC Ambassador to the DPRK Liu Hongcai (L) meets with SPA Presidium President Kim Yong Nam (R) (Photo: PRC Embassy in the DPRK)

Gone Diplorellin’

DPRK Ambassador to Germany Ri Si Hong (Photo: Welt)

Among the felonies, misdemeanors and minor trespasses committed by the DPRK’s diplomatic corps, this may rank as one of the most memorable.  On 15 January (Sunday) police in Berlin caught DPRK Ambassador to Germany, Ri Si Hong, fishing without a license.   Spiegel‘s online edition citing Berliner Morgenpost and other press reports:

According to reports in dailies Berliner Morgenpost and BZ, Berlin police discovered a man fishing on the Havel River in the city’s Spandau neighborhood on Sunday afternoon. When the officials asked to see the man’s fishing license, he apparently responded by saying he was the North Korean ambassador.

According to the reports, the angler did not have any proof of identity on him, nor did he have a fishing license. The police then asked their colleagues to bring them a current photograph of the ambassador and his personal details. When they arrived, the officers reportedly confirmed that the man was indeed the ambassador, Si Hong Ri, who took his current position in September 2011.

The officers then apparently told the ambassador to cease his illegal fishing activities. According to the police report quoted by the Berliner Morgenpost and the BZ, “the ambassador politely acknowledged (the request) with a smile and continued with the offense.” The police were unable to do anything, given the man’s diplomatic immunity.

When contacted by SPIEGEL ONLINE on Thursday, a Berlin police spokesman confirmed that a report had been filed on Sunday but declined to comment on the identity of the person involved. Fishing without a license is a crime in Germany punishable with up to two years in prison or a fine.

Meanwhile, recently appointed DPRK Ambassador to Cambodia, Hong Ki Chol, met with the Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs (and Deputy Prime Minister) Hor Namhong on 13 January (Friday).  During the meeting they discussed a potential visit to the DPRK by Hor Namhong, as well as Hong Ki Chol’s attendance at the ASEAN Regional Forum [ARF] which will be held in Phnom Penh in July.  The Cambodian press pointed out that Hong’s meeting with Hor Namhong occurred two days after ASEAN held a closed ministerial meeting to prepare for ARF.

DPRK Ambassador to Cambodia, Hong Ki Chol (L) meets with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Hor Namhong (R) in Phnom Penh on 13 January 2012 (Photo: Cambodia Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation)

Kim Jong Un Visits KPA Unit #169

Kim Jong Un waves to personnel of KPA Unit #169 in an image released by DPRK media on 18 January 2012. Seen walking behind him in grey parkas are Gen. Kim Myo'ng-kuk (R) and Gen. Kim Wo'n-hong (2nd R) (Photo: KCNA)

Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) was reported by DPRK media on 18 January (Wednesday) to have inspected Korean People’s Army [KPA] Unit #169, which is linked to the IV Army Corps in South Hwanghae Province.  KJU’s last public appearance, reported on 15 January, was his attendance of a music and dance performance at the 25 April House of Culture.  Kim Jong Un was reported to have attended a field inspection of KPA Unit #169 and observed field exercises on 30 November 2011.  On that occasion he accompanied Kim Jong Il who was engaged in a vigorous inspection tour of KPA units.

At his latest visit to the unit KJU was reported to have been accompanied by Party Central Military Commission Members VMar Ri Yong Ho (Chief of the KPA General Staff), Gen. Kim Myong Kuk (Chief, GS Operations Bureau), Gen. Kim Won Hong (Chief, Military Security Command), as well Gen. Pak Jae Gyong (Deputy Director, KPA General Political Department) and Lt. Gen. Ri Tu Song.  KCNA reports:

Going round the room dedicated to the education of the revolutionary history and the room devoted to the history of the unit, he recollected with deep emotion the undying leadership feats of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il associated with the proud course covered by the unit shining with heroic feats.

He called upon the unit to conduct the combat and political training well, not forgetting the loving care Kim Jong Il showed for its service personnel by having a picture taken with them as he had promised them four years ago while inspecting their unit in November last year, the last period of his life. He, at the same time, urged them to live up to the deep trust Kim Jong Il reposed in them by encouraging them to stand at the head of the whole army, calling the unit the unit like a tiger of Mt. Paektu.

Kim Jong Un acquainted himself with the training of the unit.

Noting that the unit has a very important duty to perform, he set forth the important tasks which would serve as guidelines for increasing the combat capability of the unit in every way.

The primary duty of the soldiers is to conduct training well, he said, underlining the need to concentrate all efforts on intensifying training and prepare the service personnel of the unit as all-round fighters capable of satisfactorily and independently discharging any combat duty, in particular.

Making the round of the soldiers’ hall and library, he expressed satisfaction over the fact that the unit has conducted political and ideological education of the soldiers in a unique manner to suit their characteristic features by keeping diverse materials for ideological and cultural education and building sufficient facilities for that purpose.

He stressed the need to continue paying primary attention to the political and ideological education of soldiers so that they may become fighters strong in idea and faith.

Looking at the photos of combat heroes, he said that the unit would produce more heroes in the future. He called on it to improve the education by use of materials on combat feats to train all its service personnel as heroes.

Stopping before the photos of the officers whom soldiers call “our officers,” he appreciated the officers who have warmly loved their soldiers, regarding them as revolutionary comrades-in-arms.

Then he dropped in at a mess hall and looked at the program for observing the “day for soldiers.” He was pleased to learn that commanding officers and families of service personnel have made every sincere effort to take good care of soldiers.

Going round a bedroom, an education room and training and lecture rooms of a company under the unit, he took care of the soldiers’ living as their real father would do.

He invited the commanding officers of the unit which Kim Jong Il visited in the last period of his life to have a picture taken together.

Calling upon them to take warm care of the living of the soldiers, he said only by doing so, they will make success in training and it is possible to bolster the combat capability of the unit. He earnestly told the officers to make long and difficult marches for training all together this year and thus finish the combat preparations of the unit without fail as desired by Kim Jong Il.

Generation After Generation After. . .

Supreme People's Assembly Presidium Vice President Yang Hyong Sop (R) shakes hands with Thomas Curley, President of the Associate Press on 16 January 2012 (Photo: KCNA)

Yang Hyong Sop, Vice President of the Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA], gave an interview to the Associated Press[AP] on 16 January (Monday) in which he dispelled questions about the youth and career experience of hereditary successor Kim Jong Un.  Yang said that despite the 17 December death of Kim Jong Il, “we are not worried a bit because we know that we are being led by comrade Kim Jong Un who is fully prepared to carry on the heritage created by the great Gen. Kim Jong Il.”  With regard to KJU’s experience Yang told the AP, “the respected comrade Kim Jong Un had long assisted the great Gen. Kim Jong Il. . .he has helped the great general in many different aspects, not only in military affairs, but also the economy and other areas as well.”  Jean H. Lee reported for AP:

The white mourning bouquets and massive portraits of the departed leader have been cleared from Pyongyang’s main buildings and monuments. People are busy getting back to daily life, with children whizzing down icy slopes on wooden sleds and workers running to catch morning buses and trams as the Kim Jong Un ode “Footsteps” blares over loudspeakers.

Vast Kim Il Sung Square, where a sea of mourners converged after Kim’s death, was ghostly quiet except for a few people who scurried quickly across the frigid plaza.

In recent weeks, as North Koreans filled the capital’s streets with their emotive mourning and the government staged elaborate funeral proceedings, party and military officials moved quickly to install Kim’s son as “supreme leader” of the people, party and military.

Kim Jong Un had been kept out of the public eye for most of his life before suddenly emerging as his father’s heir only in September 2010. Though still in his 20s, he was quickly promoted to four-star general and named a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea.

But the new ruler’s youth and quick ascension to power have raised questions in foreign capitals about how ready he is to inherit rule over this nation of 24 million with a nuclear program as well chronic trouble feeding all its people.

Yang said he had no concerns about Kim’s ability to lead.

“The respected comrade Kim Jong Un had long assisted the great Gen. Kim Jong Il,” he told AP. “It’s not a secret that he has helped the great general in many different aspects — not only in military affairs but also the economy and other areas as well.”

A soft-spoken octogenarian who is vice president of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly and a standing member of the powerful Political Bureau of the Communist party’s Central Committee, Yang has long-standing ties with the Kim family that stretch back to his close alliance with the nation’s founder, Kim Il Sung.

During a 2010 interview with Associated Press Television News in Pyongyang, he provided the first confirmation by a government official that Kim Jong Un would eventually become the nation’s next leader.

“He knows what the exact intention of the great Gen. Kim Jong Il was,” he said Monday.

His comments this week indicated there would be little change to major policies laid out by Kim Jong Un’s father in the three years before his death. Yang said the new leader was focused on a “knowledge-based” economy and looking at economic reforms enacted by other nations, including China.

SPA Presidium Vice President Yang Hyong Sop (6th L) poses with Chinese diplomatic counsel Miao Weicheng (5th R) and other PRC and DPRK officials on 17 January 2012 after a ceremony in which Miao was given the DPRK Order of Friendship (Photo: KCNA)

Kim Jong Nam's family tree

Yang’s interview was the first major story filed from newly-opened AP bureau in Pyongyang.  Yang’s remarks stayed close to messaging in the DPRK media, an essay of which recently said, “The governments and media of hostile states are attempting to mislead public opinions by rattling off a stream of abuses, talking about some kind ‘lack of experience’ and ‘hasty succession process’ . . .the leadership succession had been steadily carried out since long ago in the DPRK and the world was simply not fully aware of it.”  The Yang interview also occurred at the beginning of a week when a series of exchanges between a Japanese journalist and Kim Jong Il’s eldest son, Kim Jong Nam, will be released.  The experience question figures prominently in the book’s snippets quoted by Chosun Ilbo:

Kim Jong-nam, who was passed over for the leadership in favor of his younger brother Kim Jong-un, expresses doubts about his brother’s ability and the dynastic succession in general. “I’m concerned how Jong-un, who merely resembles my grandfather [former North Korean leader Kim Il-sung], will be able to satisfy the needs of North Koreans,” he wrote. “Kim Jong-un is still just a nominal figure and the members of the power elite will be the ones in actual power.” Kim added that his father had originally intended to halt the hereditary transfer of power, saying it would only damage his and his father’s “accomplishments.” But he changed his mind because he came to believe that the Kim family bloodline was necessary to maintain the stability of the North Korean regime. Kim Jong-nam said even North Korea’s sole ally China is less than enamored of the situation. “Rather than welcoming the hereditary succession, China is merely acknowledging it for the sake of maintaining stability,” he said. “The dynastic succession is a joke to the outside world.” Kim also commented on North Korea’s deadly shelling of Yeonpyeong Island in 2010. “It was a provocation by North Korea’s military to justify their status and existence and the possession of nuclear weapons,” he said. When asked about his thoughts on the sinking of the South Korean Navy corvette Cheonan, Kim said, “From North Korea’s perspective, there was a need to stress that the area surrounding [the five northernmost South Korean islands in the West Sea] is a war zone.” He added, “That is how the songun (military first) doctrine and the development and possession of nuclear weapons are justified.” Kim said he fell out of favor with his father because of his insistence on reform. “After I went back to North Korea following my education in Switzerland, I grew further apart from my father because I insisted on reform and market-opening and was eventually viewed with suspicion,” he recalled. “My father felt very lonely after sending me to study abroad. Then my half brothers Jong-chol and Jong-un and half sister Yeo-jong were born and his adoration was moved on to them. And when he felt that I’d turn into a capitalist after living abroad for years, he shortened the overseas education of my brothers and sister.” Kim said he told his father what was on his mind whenever he got a chance. “I told him honestly how the international community was concerned about the nuclear tests and missile launches and I am asking him to train my brother [Kim Jong-un] well in order to ensure a good life for the people.” Asked about his relations with his aunt Kim Kyong-hui and uncle Jang Song-taek, who are the patrons of the new leader, he said, “I still have good relations with them and they are fond of me. They pay special attention to me.”

On 11 January 2012, several ROK media outlets reported on the number adult children, in-laws and other family members of DPRK elites (some of whom are long dead) who were promoted or appointed to party, government, military or foreign trade positions over the last few years.  The illustrations below show a selection** of familial relationships among current and deceased or former members of the DPRK leadership.  These focus on parent-offspring relationships.

 

**There are other familial relationships among DPRK elites which will be illustrated over the next week

Associated Press Opens Pyongyang Bureau

Associated Press President Thomas Curley (L) shakes hands with Korean Central News Agency President Kim Pyong Ho, after formally opening the AP's Pyongyang bureau on 16 January 2012 (Photo: KCNA)

The Associated Press [AP] opened its Pyongyang bureau on 16 January (Monday), six months after reaching a preliminary agreement.  AP President Thomas Curley and Korean Central News Agency [KCNA] Director-General, Kim P’yo’ng-ho formally opened the bureau office.  The AP joins Xinhua and ITAR-TASS, as the only full-time news bureaus in Pyongyang.  KCNA reports:

The Pyongyang Bureau of the Associated Press of the United States was opened with due ceremony at the Korean Central News Agency on Monday.

Present there were the delegation of the Associated Press headed by its President and CEO Thomas Curley.

Kim Pyong Ho, director general of the KCNA, officials concerned and AP bureau staffers attended.

Earlier, there were talks between the two delegations at the KCNA.

An agreement on the establishment of the AP Bureau in Pyongyang was signed.

Kim Pyong Ho and Thomas Curley inked the agreement.

Thomas said the opening of the bureau would bring hundreds of millions of people around the world the cultural understanding and access to stories of political and economic development of the DPRK.

He has great expectations for good journalism, he said, adding this is a great opportunity to just understand and report.

The participants toured the bureau office.

Supreme People's Assembly Presidium Vice President Yang Hyong Sop meets with a delegation of the Associate Press in Pyongyang on 16 January 2012 (Photo: KCNA)

KJI To Permanently Lie in State at Ku’msusan

The Political Bureau issued a “special report” on 12 January (Thursday) announcing that the late Kim Jong Il’s body will be preserved to lie in state at Ku’msusan Memorial Palace.  The Political Bureau’s report also announced that a statue of KJI will be constructed, along with a series of “immortality towers.”  KCNA reports:

The Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea issued the following special report on Thursday: The Political Bureau of the WPK C.C. solemnly announces that it has decided as follows, reflecting the unanimous desire and ardent request of all party members, service personnel and people to hold the great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il in high esteem as the eternal leader of the Party and the revolution, glorify his sacred revolutionary life and undying revolutionary feats forever and surely carry to completion the revolutionary cause of Juche started in Mt. Paektu:

1. The great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il will be laid in state at the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, the sacred temple of juche.

2. The statue of the great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il will be erected with respect.

3. February 16, the greatest auspicious holiday of the nation when the great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il was born, will be instituted as the Day of the Shining Star.

4. Portraits of the great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il with smile on his face and towers to his immortality will be built across the country.

An immortality tower near Kim Il Sung Square in central Pyongyang. After the late DPRK President passed away in 1994, a series of "longevity prayer towers" were converted to "eternal life towers." (Photo: KCNA)

The scholar Andrei Lankov wrote a fantastic essay for Asia Times about the preservative culture of political leaders:

When Kim Il-sung, the founding father of the North Korean state, died in 1994, North Korean authorities immediately decided to follow the established tradition and embalm his body to put on display. They decided to commission Russian (formerly Soviet) experts to do the job, even though relations between the two states were at an all-time low.

No doubt the “Lenin laboratory” was quite happy to get this order. Communist Party rule had ended in 1991 and the laboratory had lost its highly privileged standing. Despite some protests, Lenin’s body has remained in the mausoleum, but his scientific protectors could no longer rely on generous government subsidies and had to make money for themselves.

Surprisingly, families of some nous riche Russians were willing to pay for the macabre procedure, but this was clearly not enough to keep the laboratory going. Therefore, Kim Il-sung’s death was actually good news for the struggling scientists.

It is not known how much money the North Korean government paid to the Russian scientific team. According to rumors, the price tag was around US$1 million – additionally, $800,000 has been spent annually to keep the body in good shape. It is also unknown to what extent the Russian team has been involved in the daily upkeep of the body.

It seems that most, if not all, routine work in Pyongyang is done by North Korean scientists (one should not be surprised by this – for such an impoverished state, North Korea is remarkably well educated).

North Korea’s version of a mausoleum is remarkably different from that in other communist countries that tend to emulate the Soviet prototypes. The Soviet mausoleum is a small building that was dedicated to the body itself and necessary preservation equipment.

North Koreans chose instead to convert Kim Il-sung’s official residence into his resting place. It is much larger and more elaborate than any other mausoleum worldwide.

Visitors who come to Kim Il-sung’s mausoleum do not queue for hours outside the entrance. Instead, they ushered into a chain of halls that are dedicated to the memory of the great man (and also commemorate the popular belief about his demise in 1994). His glass coffin is located on the top floor of the building.

Unlike Soviet citizens, who could just pass by, visitors to Kumsusan memorial palace are required to bow three times, in three different places, in front of Kim Il-sung. In a nice touch, visitors en route to Kim Il-sung’s body pass through a full body dust remover – to decrease the chances of some dangerous germs getting in.

There is little doubt that Kim Jong-Il’s body will be treated in the same way. After his death on December 17, it has been reported that the Russian scientists have once again been invited to Pyongyang. More recent reports, however, state that the preservation work will be done by North Korean embalmers.