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N.Korea's Old Guard Sidelined
The old guard in the North Korean military appears to have been replaced by a younger generation of officers loyal to leader Several elderly hardliners from the days of former leader Kim Jong-il were conspicuously absent from a ceremony at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang on Tuesday to mark the 22nd anniversary of Kim senior's appointment as supreme commander. A photo of the event published by the official KCNA news agency shows a new troika of powerful officers -- military politburo chief Choe Ryong-hae, army chief Ri Yong-gil, and armed forces minister Jang Jong-nam. But conspicuous by their absence were veterans of the "military-first" like era National Defense Commission members Kim Yong-chun, Ri Yong-mu, O Kuk-ryol and Hyon Chol-hae, as well as key members of the old guard who were close to Jang, including Minister of People's Security Choe Bu-il. The photo has raised speculation that the National Defense Commission, which was the most powerful decision-making body during the Kim Jong-il regime, has now grown weaker. Although Kim Jong-un is the chairman of the National Defense Commission, the execution of Jang, its vice chairman, has apparently forced other vice chairmen -- Kim Yong-chun, Ri Yong-mu and O Kuk-ryol -- into virtual retirement. Posted by: Steve White 2013-12-27 |
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