ID :
39368
Wed, 01/07/2009 - 18:55
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/39368
The shortlink copeid
(2nd LD) N. Korea to hold parliamentary election in March amid economic campaign (ATTN: MODIFIES lead, ADDS more quotes, background)
SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- North Korea will hold parliamentary elections in March, Pyongyang's news agency said Wednesday, a move that follows an economy-centered Cabinet shakeup and likely to affect the military.
The Presidium of Supreme People's Assembly announced its decision on Tuesday to
"hold the 12th representatives' election on March 8 in 2009," the Korean Central
News Agency said in a brief statement.
North Korea was expected to hold the elections in 2008, when the assembly
members' five-year term expired. But they did not take place, as rumours
circulated on leader Kim Jong-il's ill health.
Seoul and Washington officials say Kim suffered a stroke in August and is now
recovering.
When a new assembly is inaugurated, the representatives usually reshuffle the
Cabinet. They also reconfirm Kim Jong-il as chairman of the National Defense
Commission, which oversees the North's 1.1-million-strong military. A military
shakeup also usually follows.
Seoul's Unification Ministry spokesman confirmed the election, saying it will
open up a new era for the leader.
"We have to see how the new parliament will be made up," ministry spokesman Kim
Ho-nyoun said.
A South Korean state-run think tank expects North Korea will promote young
economic elite in the coming election. Economic pragmatism may emerge to lay the
groundwork for the post-Kim Jong-il era and replace the military-first policy, a
ruling philosophy promulgated by Kim, according to the latest report by the
Institute for National Security Strategy, which is an arm of the National
Intelligence Agency.
"In the assembly, some of the elderly members are expected to step down and
younger ones advance forward, and there will be an increased presence of economic
elite and 'diligent heroes' who have led by example in economic projects," the
think tank said in late December.
North Korea has few major national events this year, and it will use the
parliamentary elections as an opportunity to boost national unity, said Lee
Sang-min, a ministry official. Lee added that promotions of young economic elite
have been customary in recent years and a new parliament "doesn't necessarily
mean a policy shift. It is the Workers' Party and the military that set the
policy direction in the communist state," he said.
North Korea has already replaced five industrial ministers among its 37 Cabinet
members. Pyongyang promoted industrial veterans to ministers of railways,
forestry, electricity, agriculture and metal industry in late 2008, according to
the Seoul ministry.
Analysts say the shakeup signals Pyongyang's stepped-up drive to rebuild the
country's frail economy.
In its New Year newspaper editorial, North Korea vowed to "solve food problems by
our own efforts" and rebuild its frail industrial infrastructure. Pyongyang also
reaffirmed its military-first policy and its pledge to denuclearize the Korean
Peninsula.
hkim@yna.co.kr
The Presidium of Supreme People's Assembly announced its decision on Tuesday to
"hold the 12th representatives' election on March 8 in 2009," the Korean Central
News Agency said in a brief statement.
North Korea was expected to hold the elections in 2008, when the assembly
members' five-year term expired. But they did not take place, as rumours
circulated on leader Kim Jong-il's ill health.
Seoul and Washington officials say Kim suffered a stroke in August and is now
recovering.
When a new assembly is inaugurated, the representatives usually reshuffle the
Cabinet. They also reconfirm Kim Jong-il as chairman of the National Defense
Commission, which oversees the North's 1.1-million-strong military. A military
shakeup also usually follows.
Seoul's Unification Ministry spokesman confirmed the election, saying it will
open up a new era for the leader.
"We have to see how the new parliament will be made up," ministry spokesman Kim
Ho-nyoun said.
A South Korean state-run think tank expects North Korea will promote young
economic elite in the coming election. Economic pragmatism may emerge to lay the
groundwork for the post-Kim Jong-il era and replace the military-first policy, a
ruling philosophy promulgated by Kim, according to the latest report by the
Institute for National Security Strategy, which is an arm of the National
Intelligence Agency.
"In the assembly, some of the elderly members are expected to step down and
younger ones advance forward, and there will be an increased presence of economic
elite and 'diligent heroes' who have led by example in economic projects," the
think tank said in late December.
North Korea has few major national events this year, and it will use the
parliamentary elections as an opportunity to boost national unity, said Lee
Sang-min, a ministry official. Lee added that promotions of young economic elite
have been customary in recent years and a new parliament "doesn't necessarily
mean a policy shift. It is the Workers' Party and the military that set the
policy direction in the communist state," he said.
North Korea has already replaced five industrial ministers among its 37 Cabinet
members. Pyongyang promoted industrial veterans to ministers of railways,
forestry, electricity, agriculture and metal industry in late 2008, according to
the Seoul ministry.
Analysts say the shakeup signals Pyongyang's stepped-up drive to rebuild the
country's frail economy.
In its New Year newspaper editorial, North Korea vowed to "solve food problems by
our own efforts" and rebuild its frail industrial infrastructure. Pyongyang also
reaffirmed its military-first policy and its pledge to denuclearize the Korean
Peninsula.
hkim@yna.co.kr
