An unidentified man (marked) stands next to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at a ceremony on Sunday marking the first anniversary of former leader Kim Jong-il's death. /Kyodo-Yonhap
Posted on 12/17/2012 3:51:07 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster
Who Is the Mystery Man Next to Kim Jong-un?
A mystery man was spotted next to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at a ceremony on Sunday marking the first anniversary of former leader Kim Jong-il's death.
The man, dressed in a suit and tie, occupied a place close to the leader reserved for the No. 1 military official, and South Korean intelligence are trying to find out who he is.
Since Kim Jong-un seems lately more concerned about his personal safety, the man may just be a body guard, an intelligence official here said.
An unidentified man (marked) stands next to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at a ceremony on Sunday marking the first anniversary of former leader Kim Jong-il's death. /Kyodo-Yonhap
Meanwhile, the official whose place the mystery man occupied, Choe Ryong-hae, has apparently been demoted to his former rank of general from vice marshal. Choe, the director of the People's Army General Political Bureau, gave a speech at the ceremony and was introduced by the title of general.
Choe, who is thought to be close to North Korean eminence grise Jang Song-taek, was appointed four-star general in September of 2010 despite having no military experience. He was apparently promoted to vice marshal in April at the same time as being appointed politburo director.
The General Political Bureau is a powerful organization that monitors the ideological soundness of all North Korean officers, from front-line platoon leaders to the joint chiefs of staff. Choe reportedly used his position to wrest control of the various lucrative businesses run by the military and spearheaded the sacking of army chief Ri Yong-ho last July.
"North Korean military officers are very upset at what Choe has been doing since stepping into power," the intelligence official said. Choe's demotion is viewed as an attempt to appease restive officers.
Translation: they don't know who the hell he is and covering up their incompetence by dismissing him as nobody.
P!
Who? it’s hard to say. Except for the suit, they all look alike to me
The guy seems a little old to be a top Rambo for the fat boy.
I dont know who he is either, but Kim Jong-un does not have the demeanour of somebody who is in charge.
Notice the jaw protruding upward, he is the only one doing that, he is in charge.
As long as we are guessing...he was put there by obama, as his clone, to keep the communist regime strong.
Speculation on dailynk says he may be head of the missile project.
Does not look like a bodyguard at all, does he?
See, now that makes sense. No wonder government bureaucrats in the south couldn’t think of it. :p
The comment is:
Not funny.
Not cute.
Not mature.
When I look into those faces, I see no humanity. None at all.
Reggie Love¿
That is a group of really ugly guys. Each one looks like he wouldn’t think twice about killing his own mother and stepping on her on the way out.
Kim Jong-deux?
Perhaps the father of the pregnant Ri Sol-ju.
Go look at the picture...... at individuals. They look alike
His lover??? LOL!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.