N. Korea: Kim Jong-il puts son and sun on agenda during China mission

North Korean leader seeks support for anointed successor and visits solar energy plant as guest of Beijing officials

The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il, is exploring the potential of solar energy amid a debilitating dispute over his country's nuclear power programme.

On a visit this week to China, North Korea's main ally and aid donor, Kim requested a tour of a solar photovoltaic manufacturing plant in Yangzhou between meetings with senior Communist officials and a trip to a shopping mall.

Workers at JA Solar Holdings were told to stay at home while Kim looked around their factory.

"Apart from those involved in the visit, everyone was given the day off," an employee said. "I can't tell you any more about it due to company regulations."

The trip is shrouded in semi-secrecy. Kim's arrival in China at the weekend was reported around the world, but the two governments are unlikely to reveal details of the schedule until he returns to Pyongyang.

S. Korean media dug up some interesting background on this trip. N. Korean Ambassador to Beijing has been making rounds to meet Politburo members from so-called Shanghai Gang, whose godfather is the former Chinese President Jiang Zemin. There are four from Shanghai Gang in the nine-member Standing Committee. The presumed next leader, Xi Jinping, is also from this group, and a protege of Jiang. Apparently, Kim Jong-il wants to reach out to this group to win the committee's full support for his son's succession.

While Chinese government has not taken any real action against Kim's regime, many officials, presumably younger technocrats who are hailing from GongQingTuan(Communist Youth League, Hu Jintao's powerbase) are said to have dim view of the succession process, dropping some hint that they are not enthusiastic about NK regime. Kim Jong-il sensed it and went down to Yangzhou to meet Jiang Zemin to marshal Shanghai Gang's support against such worrisome atmosphere in Beijing. With future support of China for next N. Korean leader uncertain, he wants to make sure current leadership and future leadership of China commit themselves into future N. Korean regime led by his son.

So it is not so much about food or nukes. Yes, they need food aid, but that is not the top agenda, it seems.

Very interesting about the Shanghai Gang. I keep half an eye on them. They are certainly the key to Kim Jong-un’s staying in power. So the Kims do the Grand Kowtow.

The Kims are classic paranoids, but is it really paranoia if they are really out to get you? Heh.

The Southerners still resent the Northern barbarians conquest ending the Song Dynasty. I think this is the key to understanding Chinese politics. Mao was a pure Southerner, and boy did he resent the Northerners trying to boss him around. Whew. Never forgave, never forgot, for sure.

Just amazing that Zhou Enlai (a northerner)was able to stay alive. Mao sure kept him on a short leash. One smart and cagy cookie was Mr. Zhou.

Reminds me of long-forgotten Gao Gang, the head of pro-Soviet faction who ruled over Manchuria. He is said to have told Soviets in Moscow that he wants Manchuria to join Soviet Union as its 17th Republic. This enraged Liu Shao-qi who accompanied him during the trip to Moscow. He was so powerful that Mao couldn't touch him for a while. He eventually got rid of Gao after the Korean War. I am sure Gao Gang was also a typical Northerner.

Good example of Mao’s dealings with those he considered rivals or potential rivals.

Gao was the Shaanxi Soviet honcho as I recall. One of the sentimental Marxist-Leninist types, totally out of their depths with the true master of Power.

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