North Korean leader Kim Jong Il’s brother-in-law was promoted and a Premier who apologised for a currency debacle was replaced on Monday in a rare parliamentary session with strong signs that the secretive nation was preparing a hereditary succession of power.
Mr Kim presided over the session, state-run media reported, but footage of the reclusive leader who is believed to be in poor health was not broadcast. The event was held amid a spike in tensions caused by the North’s alleged torpedoing of a South Korean warship that killed 46 sailors.
The rubber-stamp Parliament, or the Supreme People’s Assembly, usually meets once each year to approve bills vetted by the ruling Workers’ Party. The body met last April, and no reason was given for holding Monday’s unusual second session.
But the session came amid worsening economic woes, pressing succession issues and a South Korean campaign to get the United Nations to punish Pyongyang for the ship attack, which the North denies carrying out.
In early reports about the parliamentary meeting, Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency did not say whether the ship sinking was discussed.
But the agency said that a major reshuffle was approved.
The most notable change was the promotion of Mr Kim’s brother-in-law, Jang Song Thaek. He was named vice-chairman of the all-powerful National Defence Commission, which makes security policy. Mr Jang is widely believed to be a key backer of the North Korean leader’s third son, Mr Jong Un, who several analysts think will be his father’s successor.
Mr Jang is married to Kim’s younger sister and is said to be poised to play a kingmaker role. Many believe he may lead a collective leadership after Mr Kim’s death until the new leader takes over.
Mr Yang Moo-jin, a professor at Seoul-based University of North Korean Studies, said, “Electing Jang Song Thaek to the post of vice-chairman officially appoints him as No. 2 in facilitating stable succession of power.”
He added, “With this post, he has been given all responsibility and rights to secure a stable structure for future succession.” The new Premier was identified as Choe Yong Rim, a Parliament member who replaces Kim Yong Il, Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency reported.
The former Premier Kim offered a rare public apology in February after a failed currency revamp triggered social unrest and starvation.
Last November, citizens were ordered to turn in a limited number of old bills in exchange for new, redenominated currency in an apparent bid to reassert its control over a growing market economy.
But the measure left people with worthless bills while inflation surged because state-run shops couldn’t keep up with demand. The new Premier, Mr Choe, is a seven-time incumbent member of the North’s Parliament who serves as chief secretary of the Pyongyang City Council of the Workers’ Party. The Moscow-educated Choe, 81, was seen accompanying leader Kim Jong Il when he met former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun in Pyongyang for a historic summit in 2007, according to Seoul’s unification ministry.
Koh Yu-hwan, a North Korea expert at Seoul’s Dongguk University, said that the Premier job usually goes to someone with more economic expertise. Mr Koh said that the North Korean leaders youngest son has reportedly worked together with Mr Choe on a construction project and they are apparently close.
“It’s notable that Mr Choe, who is more of a political figure, has taken the seat,” Koh said.