 |
Kim Jong Il closer to solidifying power
North Korea would be first communist dynasty
September 22, 1997
Web posted at: 9:14 a.m. EDT (1314 GMT)
In this story:PYONGYANG, North Korea (CNN) -- The world's first communist dynasty moved a step closer to reality this weekend as the process of electing North Korean leader Kim Jong Il to one of two key posts held by his late father began.
Kim has been asked by provincial deputies to take over the country's ruling party, the North's media reported Monday. The move is seen as formal preparation for the 55-year-old Kim to officially assume leadership of the ruling Workers' Party on October 10, the 52nd anniversary of its founding.
Since the death of his father, Kim Il Sung, in 1994, Kim Jong Il has been ruling North Korea as the supreme commander of the country's powerful military. But Kim has yet to take over the other two titles his father held for nearly a half century -- president and party general-secretary.
In July, North Korea declared an end to a three-year mourning period for the elder Kim, known as the "Great Leader," setting off speculation that his eldest son and heir Kim Jong Il would soon take over key state and party posts.
May formally get party post in October
According to a report carried by the North's Korean Central News Agency on Monday, party deputies of south Pyongan province, where the capital city of Pyongyang is located, met Sunday and unanimously voted to nominate Kim Jong Il as party general-secretary.
Other regional party groups are expected to follow suit.
The provincial meeting appears to support widespread speculation that Kim Jong Il will formally take over the party on October 10.
The provincial meeting made no mention of the timing of Kim Jong Il becoming North Korea's president. South Korean officials speculate that he may delay becoming president at least until year's end.
Already running the country
Although access to the inner world of North Korean politics is almost non-existent, CNN teams visiting the country in the last three years have seen clear signs that Kim Jong Il has in fact been running the country since his father's death.
His step-by-step approach to the continuation of the Kim dynasty is a reflection of the traditions of the world's last Stalinist state but may also indicate Kim Jong Il's desire not to alienate still powerful army and political leaders from his father's generation, according to analysts.
But North Korea watchers also say the isolationist Stalinist government in Pyongyang needs to mend its relations with the outside world to rescue it from famine and economic disaster.
North Korea said on Sunday that the United States should provide food aid as a sign of goodwill after the breakdown last Friday of talks aimed at creating a permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.
The 1950-1953 Korean War, in which the United States supported the capitalist South and China backed the communist North, ended with an armistice that stopped the fighting but technically did not end the war.
Related stories:
- Newsmaker Profile: Kim Jong-il - North Korean Leader
- North Korea pulls out of missile talks with U.S. - August 27, 1997
- North Korea, Japan discuss forming diplomatic ties - August 21, 1997
- Korean peace talks resume after encouraging start - August 6, 1997
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
- Korean Central News Agency - daily news about the government and Workers' Party from the state-run news agency
- Republic of Korea Ministry of National Defense
- North Korea Information - subject guide from the Council on East Asian Libraries
- Korea WebWeekly - non-partisan, non-profit news dedicated to Korean issues
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
|
Sound off on our message boardsYou said it... |
|
© 1997 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.