North Korean House of Cards

Night of the Long Knives. Saddam Hussein, like Stalin, also frequently reshuffled
elements within his personal apparatus, including the Republican Guard and the
Special Republican Guard. Kim Jong-il, taking a page from Adolf Hitler’s leadership
style, was fond of setting up rivalries throughout his apparatus of power to keep the
Praetorian Guard more focused on each other and subservient to himself. There is
no reason to expect that Kim Jong-un will be any different. In his first three years in
power, the Praetorian Guard has stayed out of the public eye. There have been some
personnel changes and it has been the subject of many rumors. While Jang Songtaek’s
purge has reconfigured part of the apparatus, there are some indications that
major changes could be impending.
a. Last Days of the Kim Jong-il Era
As with the other parts of Kim Jong-un’s apparatus, the Praetorian Guard
began to come into focus at the Third Party Conference in 2010. In April, Kim
Jong-il issued Supreme Commander’s Order No. 0046, promoting two officers
to senior ranks within the armed forces: Yun Jong-rin was promoted to general and
Kim Song-tok was promoted to colonel general. 493 While the promotions went
largely unnoticed by the international press, a cursory reading of the promotion
order highlighted the importance of the event.
While we firmly believe that the commanding officers of Unit 963,
who grew up in the bosom of the party and the leader [Suryong], to
hereafter faithfully uphold the party’s leadership; to firmly guard,
with gun barrel, the juche revolutionary cause; and to fulfill its
honorable mission and duty as the main force of the revolution in
the construction of a powerful socialist state… 494
The Guard Command (GC) is designated as Unit 963. In this promotion
cycle, Kim Jong-il was ensuring that the part of the Praetorian Guard most
responsible for his and his heir apparent’s lives was properly recognized. Yun Jong-rin
had occupied the post of Commander of the unit since 2004 and Kim Song-tok was
493 “Comrade Kim Jong Un, Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army [KPA], Inspected
the Artillery Company Under KPA Unit 963,” Nodong Sinmun, December 2, 2014. Yun Jong-rin
disappeared from public view until Decembear 2014. When he reappeared, he had been demoted to
colonel general. Kim Song-tok retained his rank.
494 “The Korean People’s Army [KPA] Supreme Commander’s Order No 0046,” KCBS, April
22, 2010.
Committee for Human Rights in North Korea
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