Kim’s show funeral “helping the son to get his hands on nuclear weapons”
by Joseph Yun Li-sun
As North Koreans continue to bow (compulsorily) out of grief, the succession game continues within the regime. Ten nuclear weapons are at stake. “Even though he has no control over them or the party, he does know about propaganda and is using the funeral to gain soldiers’ support.”
Seoul (AsiaNews) – The image of a tearful Kim Jong-un walking by his father’s funeral car in the streets of Pyongyang in the first of the two-day funeral was very important. North Korea’s national TV broadcaster, which is under the control of the Propaganda Department, provided a live feed of the ceremony to foreign networks. It is no accident that all shots of the ‘great successor’ included his Uncle Jang Son-taek and Army Chief Ri Yong-ho.
“From what North Korea has shown us, we can surmise that Jong-un has decided to rely on the army before taking control of the party,” a source in the South Korean government told AsiaNews. The party is “in the uncle’s hands, who was appointed as the young man’s tutor, but the latter wants the weapons, especially nuclear weapons.”
In Seoul, South Korean authorities are closely monitoring the succession to determine who will take over the nuclear arsenal.
Some sources note that North Korea has more than 50 kg of active plutonium, enough for ten atomic bombs. This is of great concern to South Korea, but also China and Japan, given the power vacuum created by the death of the ‘deal leader’. Regional powers are afraid that a strong leader might opt for a show of force on his own. By the same token, they are concerned that a weak leader might use nuclear weapons to assert his power domestically.
“Jong-un’s young age means a lack of military experience in a country with 1.2 million people under arms,” the source told AsiaNews. Named heir by his father only last year, he is currently vice president of the party’s Central Military Commission. However, Ri Yong-ho is really in charge of the armed forces whilst his uncle runs the party. In short, Jong-un has no control right now over the country.”
For this reason, “the funeral is crucial for him. He seems to have chosen his grandfather Kim Il-sung’s style of command. Ordinary soldiers, not generals, have taken centre stage. At a time of grief, a nation like North Korea, devastated by hunger and poverty, tends to unite. The young man does not yet have all the power but he does understand the power of propaganda. He’ll use a low-key approach to weave his web until he makes his move.”
“From what North Korea has shown us, we can surmise that Jong-un has decided to rely on the army before taking control of the party,” a source in the South Korean government told AsiaNews. The party is “in the uncle’s hands, who was appointed as the young man’s tutor, but the latter wants the weapons, especially nuclear weapons.”
In Seoul, South Korean authorities are closely monitoring the succession to determine who will take over the nuclear arsenal.
Some sources note that North Korea has more than 50 kg of active plutonium, enough for ten atomic bombs. This is of great concern to South Korea, but also China and Japan, given the power vacuum created by the death of the ‘deal leader’. Regional powers are afraid that a strong leader might opt for a show of force on his own. By the same token, they are concerned that a weak leader might use nuclear weapons to assert his power domestically.
“Jong-un’s young age means a lack of military experience in a country with 1.2 million people under arms,” the source told AsiaNews. Named heir by his father only last year, he is currently vice president of the party’s Central Military Commission. However, Ri Yong-ho is really in charge of the armed forces whilst his uncle runs the party. In short, Jong-un has no control right now over the country.”
For this reason, “the funeral is crucial for him. He seems to have chosen his grandfather Kim Il-sung’s style of command. Ordinary soldiers, not generals, have taken centre stage. At a time of grief, a nation like North Korea, devastated by hunger and poverty, tends to unite. The young man does not yet have all the power but he does understand the power of propaganda. He’ll use a low-key approach to weave his web until he makes his move.”
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