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China-Japan-Koreas | |||
Nork Economic' Reformer' Back as Prime Minister | |||
2013-04-03 | |||
A veteran technocrat who led North Korea's tentative economic reforms a decade ago has again become prime minister of the impoverished country. According to the official KCNA news agency on Monday, Pak Pong-ju's appointment was confirmed by the Supreme People's Assembly. Pak already served as prime minister from 2003 until 2007 with the backing of former leader Kim Jong-il. A government official here said it is rare for a figure with no blood ties to the ruling family to make a successful comeback. "Pak's life is like a movie," the official added.
Pak is a career technocrat and has held several key posts. He came to the leadership's attention when he was a secretary at a state-run chemical factory from 1983 to 1993 and was given a vice ministerial post overseeing light industry. In 1998, he was appointed minister for the chemicals industry, and in 2002 he visited South Korea with Jang as part of an economic delegation.
But things turned sour in 2005, when the open-air markets that were springing up across North Korea struck hardliners as one economic freedom too far. South Korean products began to appear in the markets, sparking fears of a full-scale invasion of capitalism.
But in August 2010 he was back as vice minister for light industry, his appointment coming just a month before North Korea watchers doubt Pak will be as bold as in the past. Ryu Dong-ryeol of the Police Science Institute said, "There is a chance of limited and cautious reforms being announced, but Pak will play it safe because he won't want to get sacked again." Some intelligence officials here even speculate that Pak is being set up as the fall guy for the North's dismal economic state. | |||
Posted by:Steve White |
#2 Pak Pong-ju has been in and out of NORK govt since the early 1960s. Rumor is that the PRC demanded that he be appointed and that one of the important Pak Pong-ju assignments is making sure that only PRC allies are able to steal govt funds. |
Posted by: lord garth 2013-04-03 09:53 |
#1 As per BHARAT RAKSHAK, Jong-un repor has GERMAN ADVISORS counseling him on the DPRK Economy??? |
Posted by: JosephMendiola 2013-04-03 02:08 |