27.10.2014 Views

North Korean Policy Elites - Defense Technical Information Center

North Korean Policy Elites - Defense Technical Information Center

North Korean Policy Elites - Defense Technical Information Center

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

corruption. 38 Table II-8. Factional Leanings within the <strong>North</strong> <strong>Korean</strong> Elite 39<br />

the KWP’s State Security Department, which has increasingly been tainted with rumors of<br />

Name Personality <strong>Policy</strong> Line<br />

Moderates<br />

Kim Chong-il Chairman, NDC, Politburo, Secretariat Moderate<br />

Pak Song-chol Politburo Moderate<br />

Han Song-yong Politburo Moderate<br />

Yon Hyung-muk Politburo, NDC Moderate (reform tendencies)<br />

Yi Ha-il Director, KWP Military Affairs Department Moderate (reform tendencies)<br />

Conservatives<br />

Kim Yong-chu Politburo Conservative<br />

Kim Yong-nam Politburo Conservative<br />

Kye Ung-tae Politburo, Secretariat Conservative<br />

Chon Pyong-ho Politburo Conservative<br />

Kim Ki-nam Secretariat Conservative<br />

Kim Kuk-tae Secretariat Conservative<br />

O Kuk-ryul Director, KWP Operations Department Conservative<br />

Cho Myong-nok Director, General Political Bureau Conservative (but open to<br />

limited reform)<br />

Kim Il-chol Minister of People’s Armed Forces Conservative<br />

Kim Yong-chun Chief of General Staff Conservative (but open to<br />

limited reform)<br />

Yi Ul-sol Commander, Guard Command Conservative<br />

Kim Song-ae<br />

Central Committee (Kim Il-sung’s second Conservative<br />

wife)<br />

Open<br />

Yang Hyong-sop Politburo Open<br />

Kim Chung-nin Secretariat Open<br />

Kim Pok-sin Chancellor, Cabinet Open<br />

Kim Kyung-hui Director, KWP Light Industry Department Open<br />

Kim Tu-nam Member, Kim Chong-il Personal Secretariat Open<br />

38 Kim Chong-il lacks sole control over the SSD, which has reporting channels elsewhere within the leadership,<br />

namely to Chang Song-taek (in the OGD) and the KWP Secretary for Security Affairs, Kye Ung-tae. It is likely<br />

that if Kim Chong-il wants to keep a watch on people within his own retinue, he will use the Security Command.<br />

See author’s paper The <strong>North</strong> <strong>Korean</strong> Leadership: Evolving Regime Dynamics in the Kim Chong-il Era, op. cit.<br />

39 The policy lines described in this table represent a consensus view based on numerous discussions with<br />

Pyongyang watchers and <strong>North</strong> <strong>Korean</strong> defectors. It is important to point out that in the <strong>North</strong> <strong>Korean</strong> political<br />

system, terms such as “moderate” and “conservative” do not equate with similar terms in western political<br />

discourse. Moderates are those that take a more pragmatic approach to policies, while conservatives take a view<br />

that policies should rigidly adhere to ideological principles. Those who are “open” do not appear to fit easily in<br />

the other two categories and have expressed views that transcend these factional boundaries.<br />

II-26

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!