North Korean House of Cards

leaders include Choe Ryong-hae, Kim Won-hong, Pak Pong-ju, and
Kwak Pom-gi. 86
• Jang Song-taek (67) was, for all intents and purposes, the number two
87, 88,
leader within the regime until his execution at the end of 2013.
89
Up until his death, there was a consensus within the South Korean
Pyongyang-watching community that he served as the “Control
Tower” (Chong-kwal-bon-bu). 90 He reportedly saw most, if not all, of
the reports and message traffic earmarked for Kim Jong-un. He was
allowed to prioritize this paperwork, but could not alter it in any way.
He interacted with various task groups to discuss policy options and
reach a consensus for Kim’s final decision. 91 In this regard, he worked
closely with Kim’s Personal Secretariat. Jang maintained control over
the economy and the internal security apparatus. He also had input
in foreign policy, especially vis-à-vis China and inter-Korean relations.
Given his apparent meetings with two private U.S. delegations to
86 Author’s discussions in Seoul, April 2013.
87 “Interview: Unprecedented insights into North Korea’s military structure,” New Focus
International, January 11, 2014. This is an interview with Choe Ju-hwal, “the highest-ranking military
defector in South Korea.” In formal rankings, Kim Yong-nam, the President of the SPA Presidium, holds
this position, but Jang Song-taek eclipsed Kim in terms of power and authority. According to some senior
defectors, informal power rankings are a foreign concept in North Korea; there is the Supreme Leader
and everyone else.
88 KCBS, November 4, 2012. However, in 2012, a special meeting of the Politburo created the
State Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Committee (SPCSGC) and appointed Jang as the Chairman.
This organization cemented Jang’s status as the de facto “second in command.” Most of the senior
leadership was included in the SPCSGC. Although the goal of founding the SPCSGC was, in principle,
“holding and guiding the general work of the physical culture and sports of the country in a unified
manner,” Jang Song-taek would be able to take charge of the affairs of the Party’s Secretariat through the
SPCSGC if Kim Jong-un or Kim Kyong-hui were unable to carry out their duties.
89 KCTV film footage of the opening ceremony for the Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs’
Cemetery, July 25, 2013. South Korean press speculated about Jang Song-taek’s standing within the
leadership given his reduction in public appearances in 2013 versus 2012. The decrease could have been
due to Kim Jong-un’s need to be seen as the leader, as well as Jang’s heavy workload. Jang continued to
make appearances at high-level events such as the opening ceremony for the Fatherland Liberation War
Martyrs’ Cemetery in Pyongyang on July 25th, where he stood two spots to Kim Jong-un’s right, next to
Choe Ryong-hae.
90 In North Korean terminology, the “Control Tower” (Chong-kwal-bon-bu) is the locus for dayto-day
administration of the regime. When he was still alive, there was no question that Kim Jong-il was
the “Control Tower.”
91 These issue groups are apparently developed on an ad hoc basis to examine policy issues and
develop options for the “Control Tower.” Some, such as the one that focuses on relations with South
Korea, is long-standing and composed of Party and government offices tied to foreign affairs. Others are
apparently created to deal with short-term policy issues.
Committee for Human Rights in North Korea
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