Posted on 06/05/2010 7:52:24 PM PDT by Pan_Yan
[snip]
The analysts said that the death of the official, Ri Je-gang, coming soon after the death of another top official and the dismissal of yet another one, might instead help the son, Kim Jong-un, replace elderly leaders loyal to his father with those of his choosing.
The North’s state-controlled media announced that Mr. Ri, a first deputy director of the Workers Party’s influential Organization and Guidance Department, died in a car accident soon after midnight on Wednesday. He was 80.
[snip]
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Any thoughts?
Hilarious —at FR we had this THREE DAYS AGO from TLR, and for FREE. And I mean within an hour or two of the actual event.
Any wagers there will be a NYT in 5 years?
I must have missed it. NYT is trying to learn how regimes like NK operate in the hopes that we become one.
Lol, at first I thought it was somebody else, but it isn’t.
OMG... they are dying fast — do you suppose that the new elixor/panacea drink they were advertising was tainted?
Well, maybe that special oxidant-rich fruit juice isn't tainted?
No, no..no disrespect intended.
Good post! ;)
N.Korean Eminence Grise Dead in Mysterious Circumstances
Don't worry about respect. I'm a putz in Georgia trying to keep an eye on a quirky little dictatorship on a side of the world I've never visited.
I think we going have Kill Bill situation in NK where everybody fighting for power one of Chia Pet wives or girlfriend be Lucy Liu characater
With the deaths of Ri Je Gang and KPA Artillery Commander Col. Gen. Ri Jong Bu, eleven (11) members of North Korea’s leadership have either passed away, been replaced or disappeared from public life in the first half of 2010. It does not account for the announcement of a new position, such as “director of the Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office” (Jang Pyong Gyu) in the April 2010 2nd Session of the 12th SPA, or an appointment to a long-vacant position, such as the migration of Kim Yong Il from MOFA to director of the CC KWP International Department in January.
All of those who died or have moved on were either key supporters of KJI’s succession, or played some function in the regime’s continuity. All of them were reported or observed to have escorted or appeared with KJI in the last five (5) years. Five of these personalities had direct ties to KJI’s Personal Secretariat, and hold, or held, the powerful title of OGD Deputy Director. One of these personalities (VMAR Pak Ki So) was related to KJI. The disappearance or death of members of the senior leadership are an indication of regime dynamics, however it is not clear what is in play here.
It must be hard for NK bureaucrats to get life insurance.
a) Automobile "accidents". Usually high rate of speed travel with no witnesses, going into a ditch.
b) Swimming "accidents", usually at one of the Eastern Coast resort areas, or in the Pottangang River.
When the truth of the matter is, homes are probably being broken into at midnight and people who are suddenly out of favor by the KWP are being plugged in their beds, right there, with AK-47s or automatic side arms, no questions asked. The whole family will usually be taken out.
N. Korea Reshuffle Seen as Part of Succession Plan
SEOUL, South Korea — As its leader, Kim Jong-il, was watching, North Korea’s Parliament elevated his brother-in-law to the regime’s No. 2 post Monday, according to the state-run news agency, another sign that the ailing Mr. Kim was depending more heavily on close relatives as he engineers a dynastic succession of power to his third son.
The Supreme People’s Assembly also fired Prime Minister Kim Yong-il. His removal came as North Korea was struggling to defuse discontent over a series of economic changes that have wrought financial chaos. Several other economic ministers were replaced Monday.
Yep, nobody is "fired" in the DPRK without major personal and family reprecussions. They are probably loading them up on troop trucks, bound together by wire, and headed for "Yodok" camp as we speak.
"Today I settled all family business..."
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