ID :
20941
Wed, 09/24/2008 - 09:49
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/20941
The shortlink copeid
Kim's brother-in-law likely to take NK helm: U.S. intelligence agency
SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- A U.S. intelligence agency believes Jang Song-taek, brother-in-law of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, will likely take the most important role in running the country if the ailing leader either becomes physically disabled or dies, a local daily reported Wednesday.
The agency made the suggestions in a report recently delivered to the South
Korean presidential office, intelligence agency and other security-related
offices, the Dong-A Ilbo said, citing sources in Washington and Seoul.
Seoul's Unification Ministry said it is unaware of the U.S. report
The daily said the report contained three power succession scenarios in North
Korea, based on Kim's possible future health condition -- physical disability,
protracted incapacitation and death.
"It suggested Chairman Kim will indirectly run the country through Jang
Song-taek, husband of his sister (Kim Kyong-hui), and Kim Ok, who serves as the
nation's de facto first lady, if he is only physically disabled, not mentally,"
the daily said.
"The agency predicted that if Kim dies, North Korea is highly likely be run by
collective leadership with Jang, director of the administrative department of the
Workers' Party, taking the most important role," the report said.
South Korea's National Intelligence Service said Kim Jong-il, 66, suffered a
stroke last month and is recuperating after brain surgery. But North Korean
officials deny that Kim, who was last seen in public more than 40 days ago, is
ill.
Kim took over from his father Kim Il-sung who died of a heart attack in 1994.
None of Kim Jong-il's three sons -- Jong-nam, Jong-chul and Jong-un, are known to
have been named as an heir.
Jang, a 62-year-old technocrat who studied in Moscow, came back to Pyongyang's
power hierarchy in 2006 two years after being purged for trying to build up a
military faction. He is reportedly close to Kim's eldest son Jong-nam.
Washington sees scant chance of one of the three sons heading the collective
leadership, according to the report.
The 37-year-old Jong-nam has yet to win the confidence of his father, and the
second and third sons, both in their 20s, are still inexperienced in politics and
are little known even to North Korean residents.
Jang, in comparison, has a firmer power base than the sons and other ranking
party and military officials, the U.S. intelligence body said.
With a family link to the military leadership, Jang won the deep confidence of
the Workers' Party and is retaining a firm grip on security offices, according to
the U.S. report as quoted.
But the collective leadership will face the challenge of an internal power
struggle for succession among the elites, it said.
The agency predicted uncertainty will rise in North Korea, however, should Kim
remain incapacitated for a long time, because of fierce competition between
different political groups.
sshim@yna.co.kr
(END)
The agency made the suggestions in a report recently delivered to the South
Korean presidential office, intelligence agency and other security-related
offices, the Dong-A Ilbo said, citing sources in Washington and Seoul.
Seoul's Unification Ministry said it is unaware of the U.S. report
The daily said the report contained three power succession scenarios in North
Korea, based on Kim's possible future health condition -- physical disability,
protracted incapacitation and death.
"It suggested Chairman Kim will indirectly run the country through Jang
Song-taek, husband of his sister (Kim Kyong-hui), and Kim Ok, who serves as the
nation's de facto first lady, if he is only physically disabled, not mentally,"
the daily said.
"The agency predicted that if Kim dies, North Korea is highly likely be run by
collective leadership with Jang, director of the administrative department of the
Workers' Party, taking the most important role," the report said.
South Korea's National Intelligence Service said Kim Jong-il, 66, suffered a
stroke last month and is recuperating after brain surgery. But North Korean
officials deny that Kim, who was last seen in public more than 40 days ago, is
ill.
Kim took over from his father Kim Il-sung who died of a heart attack in 1994.
None of Kim Jong-il's three sons -- Jong-nam, Jong-chul and Jong-un, are known to
have been named as an heir.
Jang, a 62-year-old technocrat who studied in Moscow, came back to Pyongyang's
power hierarchy in 2006 two years after being purged for trying to build up a
military faction. He is reportedly close to Kim's eldest son Jong-nam.
Washington sees scant chance of one of the three sons heading the collective
leadership, according to the report.
The 37-year-old Jong-nam has yet to win the confidence of his father, and the
second and third sons, both in their 20s, are still inexperienced in politics and
are little known even to North Korean residents.
Jang, in comparison, has a firmer power base than the sons and other ranking
party and military officials, the U.S. intelligence body said.
With a family link to the military leadership, Jang won the deep confidence of
the Workers' Party and is retaining a firm grip on security offices, according to
the U.S. report as quoted.
But the collective leadership will face the challenge of an internal power
struggle for succession among the elites, it said.
The agency predicted uncertainty will rise in North Korea, however, should Kim
remain incapacitated for a long time, because of fierce competition between
different political groups.
sshim@yna.co.kr
(END)
