All about Kim: North Korea's strange, smiling leader | World News - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

All about Kim: North Korea's strange, smiling leader

AFP | By, Seoul
Feb 14, 2013 04:33 PM IST

When Kim Jong-Un came to power in North Korea in late 2011, some saw a young, untested leader destined for failure, while others detected a glimmer of reformist hope in the Swiss-educated heir to the ruling Kim dynasty.

When Kim Jong-Un came to power in North Korea in late 2011, some saw a young, untested leader destined for failure, while others detected a glimmer of reformist hope in the Swiss-educated heir to the ruling Kim dynasty.

One year, one successful long-range rocket launch and one nuclear test later, they have all been proved wrong.

Kim, believed to be in his late 20s, has prospered, consolidating his power base at home and showing the same disdain for global censure as his late father, Kim Jong-Il.

A file photo showing North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un giving the final order for the launch of the Unha-3 rocket, carrying the satellite Kwangmyongsong-3, at the general satellite control and command centre in Pyongyang. AFP
A file photo showing North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un giving the final order for the launch of the Unha-3 rocket, carrying the satellite Kwangmyongsong-3, at the general satellite control and command centre in Pyongyang. AFP

And early suggestions of a reformist bent that might signal a shift from the "Songun" ("Military First") policy of his father have come to nothing, as Tuesday's nuclear test emphatically underlined.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a consultative meeting with officials in the fields of state security and foreign affairs at undisclosed location in North Korea. AP Photo
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a consultative meeting with officials in the fields of state security and foreign affairs at undisclosed location in North Korea. AP Photo

"Any hopes that the first year of the young dictator's reign would signal a departure from his father's hardline policies have been dashed," said Andrei Lankov, a North Korea expert at Seoul's Kookmin University.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

"Kim has proved himself to be a loyal son, following in his father's footsteps, while at the same time delivering results his father could only dream about," Lankov said.

This file photo taken on April 15, 2012 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (L) applauding during a military parade in honour of the 100th birthday of the late North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung in Pyongyang. AFP photo </div)
This file photo taken on April 15, 2012 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (L) applauding during a military parade in honour of the 100th birthday of the late North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung in Pyongyang. AFP photo

Kim's most visible successes came in quick succession, with the launch of a long-range rocket in December and then the nuclear test just two months later.

The first marked a significant step forward in North Korea's ballistic prowess, while the test was markedly more powerful than its predecessors in 2006 and 2009 and, according to Pyongyang, far more sophisticated.

"The test, coming on the back of the rocket launch, covers multiple bases for Kim Jong-Un," said Yoo Ho-Yeol, a North Korean expert at Korea University.

"As well as proving his loyalty to his father's legacy, he's demonstrated his leadership qualities and gained an upper hand in negotiations with other countries," Yoo said.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, center, holds the National Security Council (NSC) meeting regarding North Korea's nuclear test at the presidential Blue House in Seoul. AP Photo </div)
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, center, holds the National Security Council (NSC) meeting regarding North Korea's nuclear test at the presidential Blue House in Seoul. AP Photo

Most analysts stress that the "loyalty" issue was crucial given the dynastic nature of North Korea's leadership.

Kim Jong-Un's sole priority, they argue, was to cement his legitimacy as the dynastic successor and demonstrate his loyalty to the legacies of his father and grandfather, the North's founding leader Kim Il-Sung.

While Kim's more open, smiling style might contrast with his father, the outward policy stance of belligerent intransigence was unchanged.

"One of the things we have to realise is that even though it's a different leader, the policies seem more or less the same -- the use of threats, intimidation and provocative behaviour to a particular end," said Philip Yun, executive director of the US-based Ploughshares Fund.

North Korea's internal politics are so opaque that there will always be questions about where the real decision-making power in the leadership resides, and whether Kim's role extends beyond that of symbolic figurehead.

The state propaganda machine has certainly pushed him as an active leader, providing prominent coverage of his meetings with top security officials prior to Tuesday's nuclear test.

South Korean conservative activists display placards behind an effigy of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) during a rally denouncing North Korea's nuclear test, in Seoul. AFP photo </div)
South Korean conservative activists display placards behind an effigy of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) during a rally denouncing North Korea's nuclear test, in Seoul. AFP photo

And under Kim's watch, the North's missile and nuclear programmes have made highly-visible strides in a very short period of time.

The response of the international community, particularly the United States, has been to warn North Korea that it faces further isolation.

But Kim's leadership has shown no outward sign of concern at the prospect, not even when sole ally China has hinted at a reduction in crucial economic aid.

This Dec. 24, 2012 satellite image provided by GeoEye shows North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test facility.(AP Photo/GeoEye Satellite </div)
This Dec. 24, 2012 satellite image provided by GeoEye shows North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test facility.(AP Photo/GeoEye Satellite

"Since coming to power, Kim has shown a distinct willingness to violate previous agreements, provoke the international community, and crack down harshly at home to preserve his power," said Nicholas Hamisevicz at the Korea Economic Institute of America.

"The time has come to abandon any lingering illusions about the nature of Pyongyang's leadership and prepare for a period of tension and provocation," Hamisevicz said.

Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away! - Login Now!

Get Latest World News along with Latest News from India at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On