North Korean House of Cards

out of the picture, 163 the connection to the Mt. Paektu bloodline, which created
the foundation for the Kim regime’s legitimacy, will begin to fade. 164 Instability
could creep in, and this could eventually lead to growing public agitation that the
regime cannot control. This would allow the wider leadership more flexibility to
go its own way, ignoring the demands from the center.
163 In addition to reports about Kim Kyong-hui’s health, there are also reports, primarily from
Japanese and South Korean media, that she may be in Switzerland or Poland. This may be for medical
treatment or due to a falling out with Kim Jong-un over her husband’s execution. If the latter is true,
which is still highly speculative, the potential for instability is real as news of a breach within the Kim
family leaks out to the wider leadership.
164 Song Sang-Ho, “Absence of Kim’s Aunt May Not Impact North Korea Leadership,” The
Korea Herald, January 13, 2014. Some Pyongyang-watchers doubt that Kim Kyong-hui’s illness will have
much impact on her nephew’s power consolidation process, which is coming to a close. If she is unable to
perform her Party and other official duties, these may fall to Kim Yo-jong, who appears to be following in
her aunt’s footsteps as a key advisor to her older brother.
Committee for Human Rights in North Korea
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