I blogged earlier this week about the purging of Jang Song Thaek as part of a power play by the new leader Kim Jong Un. Apparently in a more overtly feudal manner of dealing with one's potential rivals and usurpers of power, Kim had Jang executed yesterday. The execution of Jang highlights three things.
First, the absolutism of family authority in North Korea has been put on full display. Kim Jong Un has notified the country that the Kim family is still firmly in control of the government. Jang Song Thaek had risen to number two in the DPRK governing hierarchy. Jang had his own supporters and a history of power-seeking. Kim Jong Un is reminding the country that he and the Kim dynasty are still in control of the country.
Two, I believe the execution is a signal that easing of market restrictions and liberalizing the economy will not occur as a systematic program sponsored by the government. Jang was responsible for attempting Chinese style market reforms in North Korea and had close ties to Chinese business and industry. The message of Jang's execution is North Korea will have market reform only when the public distribution system of the socialist state is failing and when it recovers the market still belongs to the state, not to any private holder.
Three, the execution illustrates Kim Jong Un is young, untried, untested, with little governing experience. Kim Jong Il had nearly twenty years as a government and party official and a decade of military policy-making before he became the ruler of North Korea. Kim Jong Un has about eighteen months before becoming the leader of the country. No time existed for allowing Kim Jong Un to build his own reputation and governing persona under the watchful and powerful eye of his father. So, Kim Jong Un was given power and has to prove he alone wields the power. Kim Jong Un will make sweeping uses of power and we should expect more attempts to demonstrate his mastery of the leadership of the DPRK. At least this is my two cents about the matter.
First, the absolutism of family authority in North Korea has been put on full display. Kim Jong Un has notified the country that the Kim family is still firmly in control of the government. Jang Song Thaek had risen to number two in the DPRK governing hierarchy. Jang had his own supporters and a history of power-seeking. Kim Jong Un is reminding the country that he and the Kim dynasty are still in control of the country.
Two, I believe the execution is a signal that easing of market restrictions and liberalizing the economy will not occur as a systematic program sponsored by the government. Jang was responsible for attempting Chinese style market reforms in North Korea and had close ties to Chinese business and industry. The message of Jang's execution is North Korea will have market reform only when the public distribution system of the socialist state is failing and when it recovers the market still belongs to the state, not to any private holder.
Three, the execution illustrates Kim Jong Un is young, untried, untested, with little governing experience. Kim Jong Il had nearly twenty years as a government and party official and a decade of military policy-making before he became the ruler of North Korea. Kim Jong Un has about eighteen months before becoming the leader of the country. No time existed for allowing Kim Jong Un to build his own reputation and governing persona under the watchful and powerful eye of his father. So, Kim Jong Un was given power and has to prove he alone wields the power. Kim Jong Un will make sweeping uses of power and we should expect more attempts to demonstrate his mastery of the leadership of the DPRK. At least this is my two cents about the matter.
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