North Korean House of Cards

constraints established by his father and grandfather that the system imposes. 317
How eager he is to challenge some of these constraints remains unclear. 318 His
decision to reveal the failure of the Unha-3 missile test in April 2012 may have been
his own decision or could have resulted from the fact that he listened to advisors
who advocated for transparency, given the unprecedented openness leading up to
the launch. 319 Other reports describe Kim as a spontaneous decision maker who is
quick to anger. The story of Ri Yong-ho’s removal during a Politburo meeting fits
this personality profile.
Image 19: Kim Jong-un delivers his first public address in Kim Il-sung Square on the
100th anniversary of his grandfather’s birth. (Source: KCTV)
317 This observation is based on a series of interviews the author conducted with Pyongyang-watchers
in Seoul in April 2013. There were some who hold the opposite view that Kim Jong-un
lacks an understanding of boundaries and is enamored with the power his position affords him.
318 “Is Kim Jong-un Throttling Back Personality Cult?,” The Chosun Ilbo, July 8, 2013. There is
some debate within Pyongyang-watching circles over whether Kim Jong-un’s cult of personality has begun
inside North Korea. Some media reports said that Kim Jong-un badges were spotted in Pyongyang in
May 2013, worn by members of the elite. Later reports suggested that this may not be the case. Sources
at the border village of Panmunjom alleged that Kim Jong-un prohibited the production of such badges.
The South Korean delegation to the inter-Korean talks in July 2013 did not spot them on their North
Korean counterparts. Instead, according to North Korean sources, the delegation wore pins featuring Kim
Il-sung or both Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, but no badges with only Kim Jong-un’s face on them. In
2015, the South Korean media reported that the North was manufacturing badges showing the faces of
Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, and Kim Jong-un together to mark the 70th anniversary of the Workers’ Party
on October 10, 2015. “N. Koreans To Wear New Kim Jong Un Badges,” The Korea Times, July 8, 2015.
319 Ahn Jong-Sik, “Time to Take a Step Back on North Korea,” Daily NK, February 8, 2014.
According to Ahn, decision-making in the Kim Jong-un era has been characterized by an air of improvisation
and immaturity. In April 2012, at the time of the long-range missile launch, Pyongyang invited
foreign reporters to view the launch site and watch the rocket launch, but prevented them from viewing
the event on the day of. Then, having raised tensions in March and April 2013, Kim completely reversed
direction in May and began an over-the-top diplomatic charm offensive. These, and other events, such
as the sporadic family reunions, have led many in Washington and Seoul to conclude that Kim and the
North Korean leadership lack a strategic plan and are driven by short-term tactical considerations primarily
tied to internal pressures.
Committee for Human Rights in North Korea
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