North Korean House of Cards

C. CHAPTER THREE: NORTH KOREAN
LEADERSHIP DYNAMICS POST-JANG SONG-TAEK
On December 24, 2013, Kim Jong-un reportedly issued orders to the
SSD, MPS, and MSC to commence an investigation to root out “rebels” within the
system and stabilize popular sentiment following Jang Song-taek’s purge. 165 This led
to heart-wrenching stories over the following weeks of relatives of Jang Song-taek
and those close to him being dragged from their houses and sent to prison camps.
Stories also began to trickle out about senior-level leaders being absent from
meetings and prominent events.
This chapter examines leadership dynamics in North Korea since Jang Songtaek’s
purge. It studies the reshuffling of portfolios in 2014 and the first half of 2015
and offers analysis on Kim Jong-un’s evolving inner circle. Finally, it considers what
these changes say about Kim Jong-un’s strategy to consolidate power.
1. Impact on Power Networks
In terms of the formal leadership structure, the overall rankings remained
largely unaffected in the weeks after Jang’s purge. A comparison between the
leadership events surrounding the first anniversary of Kim Jong-il’s death in
December 2012 and leadership events in 2013, including Kim Kuk-tae’s funeral,
reveals that only a few leaders moved significantly in the rankings. Kim Yong-nam,
Premier Pak Pong-ju, 166 and Choe Ryong-hae remained at the top of the formal
leadership rankings behind Kim Jong-un. 167 Choe Yong-rim, the former Premier,
and Hyon Chol-hae, the former First Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces
(MPAF), fell several spots, most likely due to their retired status. Ju Kyu-chang,
Director of the KWP Defense Industry Department, inexplicably fell six spots
after the Founding Anniversary Parade in September 2013. Jo Yon-jun, First Vice
Director of the KWP OGD, and Tae Jong-su, KWP Secretary, both rose in the
165 This information was provided to a senior defector in Seoul by way of a contact in the North
Korean central government apparatus.
166 Oh Gwan-Cheol, “Keep an Eye on Premier Pak Pong-ju,” The Kyunghyang Shinmun,
December 19, 2013. While much of the media speculation at the time centered on Choe Ryong-hae,
many Pyongyang-watchers contend that Kim Yong-nam and Pak Pong-ju remained two of Kim Jongun’s
key advisors. While they occupied the second and third positions in the formal rankings, they were
rumored to be key players within the informal power structure.
167 It is interesting to note the placement of Pak Pong-ju. Although he was only a member of the
Politburo, he was ranked with both Kim Yong-nam and Choe Ryong-hae, who were both members of the
Politburo Presidium. This suggested Pak’s role as one of Kim Jong-un’s inner circle of advisers.
Ken E. Gause
65