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North Korean Policy Elites - Defense Technical Information Center

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Table IV-4. Educational Background of the DPRK <strong>Elites</strong> (continued)<br />

Mangyondae<br />

School<br />

Kim Il Sung<br />

University<br />

Soviet Moscow State<br />

University<br />

PRC Yunan Military<br />

Academy<br />

Kim Guk-tae Kim Hwan Kim Guk-tae<br />

Park Song-ch’ol<br />

(Soviet Military Academy,<br />

graduate of 1963)<br />

Kim Il Chol Kim Jong Il Kim Yong-ju Yun Gi-bok<br />

(deceased)<br />

Kim Jong Il Kim Yong Nam Kim Yong Nam (1954)<br />

Oh Guk-ryol Soh Yun-sok Oh Guk-ryol (Soviet Air Force<br />

Academy)<br />

Soh Yun-sok Kim Yong-sun Kim Yong-sun (deceased)<br />

Yong Hyon Muk Yong Hyon Muk Kim Yun Hyok (Leningrad<br />

Politechnical University)<br />

Kye Ung Tae<br />

Li Ul Sol (Soviet Military<br />

Academy)<br />

Pak Nam-gi (Leningrad<br />

Politechnical University)<br />

Yang Hyong Sop Yang Hyong Sop<br />

Yun Gi-bok (deceased)<br />

In contrast to technocrats, who tend to be rather pragmatic and progressive in their<br />

thinking, the leading ideologues of the current <strong>North</strong> <strong>Korean</strong> regime differ widely in their views:<br />

from conservative to moderate-conservative to moderate-progressive to progressive. Some of<br />

them actually stand behind Kim Jong Il’s call for “new thinking” and demonstrate some<br />

proclivity for innovative approaches and ideas, whereas others are still aligned with the “old<br />

guard” and generally are regarded as the guardians of the revolutionary traditions, proponents of<br />

conservative thinking, and defenders of the unified Juch’e party line (see Table 5).<br />

“Local <strong>Elites</strong>”<br />

The “local elites” represent the voices of the provincial and county administrative and<br />

party bosses, as well as local military commanders. These local officials have their own<br />

parochial interests and try to shield themselves from political winds in Pyongyang. Table 6 lists<br />

some of the most influential local leaders whose opinions are taken seriously in Pyongyang.<br />

IV-39

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