|
Kim Jong-il surfaces
EFLNorth Koreaâs reclusive leader Kim Jong Il made his first public appearance over the weekend since the devastating train explosion on April 22, according to the Northâs official media on Monday. The Northâs state-run Korean Central News Agency said Kim made an "on-spot" tour of the Korean Peopleâs Army Unit 4302. The blast touched off speculation that it may have been an attempt to assassinate Kim who reportedly passed through Ryongchon Station on his way back from a secret visit to China nine hours before the blast. Analysts interpret Kimâs first public appearance at a military site since the blast as a sign of his efforts to maintain a firm grip on the countryâs 1.1 million-strong army, the backbone of his totalitarian rule, to prevent any social unrest in the wake of the deadly train explosion. "Shocked by the train explosion on his way back from China, Kim is expected to further strengthen his security and control over the people," said Nam Sung-wook, a North Korea specialist at Korea University. Kim has made the military rounds in an apparent attempt to polish his army credentials amid the deepening nuclear crisis with the United States. Just two days after the train blast, he held but didnât attend gala functions with "merry dances" to commemorate the armyâs founding anniversary. Those formerly in charge of rail security did a particularly merry and entertaining dance. The "on-spot" tour of the military has long been the staple of propaganda for the personality cult for Kim hailed in his country as "great leader of the planet." Words fail me Posted by: RWV 2004-05-03 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=32155 |