North Korean House of Cards

Image 5: Choe Ryong-hae receiving a gift from Kim Jong-un at the enlarged meeting of the KWP
CMC in February 2013. (Source: KCTV)
The regime structure in the early years of Kim Jong-un’s reign was one in
which the Supreme Leader operated within a highly structured circle of gatekeepers.
His interactions outside of this circle were somewhat managed, for instance through
guidance inspections, but he had the ability to reach out to the wider North Korean
leadership to access reservoirs of information, receive advice, and build relationships.
This structure changed faster than most Pyongyang-watchers believed
possible. In December 2013, any discussion of regents ceased with the very public
purge of Jang Song-taek. While the outside world may have been caught by surprise,
the story had been unfolding for nearly a decade behind the scenes.
Ken E. Gause
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