North Korean House of Cards

to as the éminence grise, who was at ease with his power. At the Fourth Meeting of
Party Cell Secretaries in February 2013, Jang was caught on state television sitting
with his left arm leaning against the armrest of his chair or staring off into the
distance as Kim Jong-un delivered a speech. This apparent lack of interest in the
proceedings was in stark contrast to the rest of the leadership on the podium, who
sat stiffly, looking straight ahead. According to one South Korean Defense Ministry
official, “We’ve frequently spotted Jang Song-taek looking unfazed by Kim Jong-un’s
presence and we are repeatedly hearing rumors that he is the person who is really in
power in the North.” 121
Image 6: Kim Jong-un speaking at the Fourth Meeting of Party Cell Secretaries.
Jang Song-taek is highlighted with circles. (Source: KCNA)
There was a great deal of speculation about Jang’s daily role and function as
the “Control Tower,” but there was little information. His main responsibility was
to oversee the implementation of the Supreme Leader’s policy decisions. 122 He
interacted with various policy task forces, making the necessary decisions to keep
policies on track. 123 This was something Kim Jong-il would have done in the past.
Decisions were frequently not made in a timely manner because of the amount of
documents generated to ensure that the regime would continue to function. Since
Kim Jong-un was still learning how to manage the regime’s politics, it is unlikely that
121 “N. Korea’s Eminence Grise at Ease in Power,” The Chosun Ilbo, February 1, 2013.
122 Author’s interviews in Seoul, April 2013. According to one South Korean Pyongyang-watcher,
the “Control Tower” under Jang Song-taek was not a decision-making post, unlike under Kim Jong-il.
While it retained many of the “hub-and-spoke” administrative functions, final decisions rested with the
“royal family”—Kim Jong-un and possibly Kim Kyong-hui.
123 Author’s interviews with senior-level defectors in Seoul, April 2013.
Committee for Human Rights in North Korea
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