North Korean House of Cards

Image 16: A screenshot of Kim Jong-un convening an emergency meeting of KWP Central Military
Commission on the night of August 20, 2015. (Source: KCTV)
While there is debate within the Pyongyang-watching community over
whether these photographs and reports are a reflection of actual meetings or staged
events for the purpose of building Kim Jong-un’s legitimacy as the Supreme Leader,
there is a general consensus that much of the decision-making process is hidden
from sight. Recently, information has emerged through defector channels, which
suggests that a decision-making process was put in place shortly after Kim Jong-il’s
death. This framework provides Kim Jong-un with the situational awareness he
needs as the final decision-making authority. It also creates an environment in which
he can develop the relationships he will ultimately need in order to consolidate
power. The sections below discuss this process, but readers should approach this
information with caution. It has not been vetted and may at best illustrate a process
by which a totalitarian regime educates a young and untested leader.
Ken E. Gause
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