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Kim Jong Un pins his survival on N. Korean military December 31, 2011 By YOSHIHIRO MAKINO / Correspondent SEOUL--The relationship between Kim Jong Un and the country's military appears to be unsettled, with the inexperienced North Korean leader trying to keep the generals happy while at the same time keeping them in check. In the "military-first" policy created out of fear by his father and former leader Kim Jong Il, the military exerts great influence over the country's civilian leadership. On Dec. 30, the National Defense Commission announced that Pyongyang will maintain its hard-line policies. A South Korean government official...

The Signs Are Bad, and Time Is Short By The Daily NK [2011-12-30 09:52 ] On Thursday, ten days of mourning for Kim Jong Il was wound up. Internally, there have been no signs of anything out of the ordinary since Kim’s sudden death was announced on December 19th. In content and style, the mourning process was very similar to that of Kim Il Sung, up to and including the wailing mourners. Although international observers have long held concerns about the new leader, twenty-something year old Kim Jong Eun, the North Korean authorities have not taken long to proclaim him...

Who Is in Charge of N.Korea's Nuclear Weapons? New North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is taking control of the renegade country's nuclear weapons, Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin told the National Assembly's Defense Committee last Tuesday. "It also seems that Kim Jong-un has the final say on nuclear weapons considering that the power is being handed over to him now," he added. Kim Jong-un is vice chairman of the Workers Party's Central Military Commission, which now commands the military. A South Korean intelligence officer said the North Korean military attaches the greatest importance to the nuclear arms, and Kim Jong-un is...

Purges 'Ensure Kim Jong-un's Succession' A series of executions and unexplained deaths since North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's son Jong-un was anointed heir to the throne in January 2009 were apparently meant to remove obstacles to the transition. Kim senior instituted several bloody purges to ensure his iron grip on power since he officially took over from his own father in 1994. The most prominent example is perhaps the death of Ri Je-gang, a former senior deputy director of the Organization and Guidance Department and a close aide to Kim Jong-il who oversaw key military appointments for more than two...

December 26, 2011 Jang Song-taek Cements Position in N.Korean Regime Jang Song-taek, the uncle and patron of new North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, appeared on state TV on Sunday dressed in full military uniform for the first time. Until now, Jang had only been spotted in a suit and tie. Korean Central TV broadcast footage of Kim Jong-un and Jang paying their respects to dead leader Kim Jong-il, who lies in state at Kumsusan Memorial Hall in Pyongyang. Jang's insignia confirm his military status as a four-star general in addition to his existing titles of vice chairman of the powerful...

Kim Jong-il's Brother 'Under House Arrest in Pyongyang' North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's half-brother Pyong-il, the North's perpetual ambassador to Poland, is rumored to have been under house arrest since he arrived in Pyongyang in May. A source familiar with the North's internal affairs on Thursday said Kim Pyong-il is under house arrest because Kim Jong-il's son and heir Jong-un and his followers are maneuvering to hold him in check. "Anyone who is believed to pose an obstacle to Kim Jong-un's succession, even members of his own family, is subject to elimination," the source added. Experts say Kim Jong-un is...

Al-Qaeda names Zawahiri to succeed bin Laden By Lynne Nahhas (AFP) – 7 hours ago DUBAI — Al-Qaeda on Thursday named Egyptian surgeon Ayman al-Zawahiri to succeed slain leader Osama bin Laden and vowed no let-up in its deadly "jihad" against arch-foes the United States and Israel. "The general command of Al-Qaeda announces, after consultations, the appointment of Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahiri as head of the group," the jihadist network said in a statement posted on an Islamist website. Zawahiri, the group's long-time number two, succeeds bin Laden who was killed by US commandos in a May 2 raid in Pakistan....

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 Jonathan Watts in Beijing guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 24 May 2011 12.30 BST 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...

Furry Hat Offers Clues to Progress of N.Korean Succession North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's son and heir Jong-un is already being treated with the same level of protocol as his father. A senior South Korean government official last Friday said Kim Jong-un seems to have moved up to the same rank as his father. "The most conspicuous sign is that Kim Jong-un has started wearing a top-quality furry hat that only Kim Jong-il has been wearing so far," the official added. Kim junior wore the same hat as his father in video clips showing Kim senior's so-called on-the-spot guidance trip...

/begin my excerpts Kim Jong-eun's Intensifying Purge of N. Korean Military Lee Myung-sung 2011-01-10 As New Year starts, N. Korean military is in the middle of inexplicable personnel reassignment and purge drive Our source inside N. Korea reported on Jan. 8 that the number of inmates is suddenly swelling at (Jang-hyun-dong) Military Prison. It is under the control of Defense Ministry and located at Jang-huyn-dong Valley, Kimchaek City, North Hamkyung Province. It is right below Machon-ryong Pass. Lately many of (incoming) inmates are former generals purged by Kim Jong-eun. /snip The source said that common soldiers and company (mid-level) officers...

North’s succession will be rocky, says report January 08, 2011 Since the public debut of Kim Jong-un as chosen successor to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, there has been speculation that the succession process itself could be tumultuous because of Kim Jong-un’s youth and inexperience. According to a yearly report from the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU), there could be conflict and a scramble for power among the North’s elite in 2011 if Kim Jong-il steps down or dies. Kim Jong-il’s third son, Kim Jong-un, sensing a threat to his future leadership, could act to stabilize his ascension this...

January 7, 2011 Low Profile of an Heir Reinforces a Mystery By MARK McDONALD SEOUL, South Korea — When he was introduced to the public in September, Kim Jong-un appeared destined to succeed his father, Kim Jong-il, as the leader of North Korea, an irascible, destitute and nuclear-armed nation. But a growing number of experts in Seoul are beginning to question whether he has been fully certified, despite his elevation to a high military rank and the urgency created by his father’s poor health. “There are some minor but real reasons to ask if we are rushing our judgment about...

Jong-un’s birthday is now holiday, says report December 24, 2010 North Korea has declared a public holiday to mark the birthday of leader Kim Jong-Il’s youngest son, a report said yesterday, as the regime grooms him to take over power from his father. Good Friends, a Seoul-based welfare group with contacts in the North, said the propaganda department in the northeastern city of Hoeryong had since mid-October held lectures for ruling party secretaries at each factory, workplace and public institution. The lectures, among other topics, mentioned the accomplishments of “Young General” Kim Jong-un “as well as the honor and pride...

Military Escalation in Korea CPA Contingency Planning Memorandum No. 10 DOWNLOAD THE FULL TEXT OF THE MEMORANDUM HERE Overview Further provocations by North Korea as well as other dangerous military interactions on or around the Korean peninsula remain a serious risk and carry the danger of unintended escalation. Moreover, changes underway in North Korea could precipitate new tensions and herald a prolonged period of instability that raises the possibility of military intervention by outside powers. This Center of Preventive Action Contingency Planning Memorandum by Paul Stares analyzes potentially dangerous crises that could erupt in Korea due to the atmosphere of...

N. Korea's heir mentioned second to father among state funeral organizers SEOUL, Nov. 7 (Yonhap) -- Mentioning his name ahead of all other senior officials', North Korea announced Sunday that Kim Jong-un, the 20-something son of leader Kim Jong-il, would aid his father in organizing a funeral for a powerful military officer who died earlier this week. The sequence -- placing Kim Jong-il's third son ahead of the Cabinet premier, the chief of general staff and the defense minister -- is the clearest signal yet that Kim Jong-un is officially in line to take over from his 68-year-old father. Kim,...

Executive Order--Order of Succession Within the Department of Justice By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq., it is hereby ordered that: Section 1. Order of Succession. Subject to the provisions of section 2 of this order, the following officers, in the order listed, shall act as and perform the functions and duties of the office of Attorney General, during any period in which the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General, the Associate Attorney General,...

The White House Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release November 04, 2010 Executive Order--Order of Succession Within the Department of Justice By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq., it is hereby ordered that: Section 1. Order of Succession. Subject to the provisions of section 2 of this order, the following officers, in the order listed, shall act as and perform the functions and duties of the office of Attorney General, during any...

Kim Jong-il's oldest son against North Korea dynastic succession The eldest son of Kim Jong-il who was passed over in favour of his younger brother in the race to succeed his father as leader of North Korea, has said that he opposes the idea of a dynastic succession in the secretive Stalinist state. By Peter Foster in Beijing Published: 9:20AM BST 12 Oct 2010 Kim Jong-nam, 39, who lives in the gambling hub of Macao and was once said to be too "wayward" for the leadership, said he did not approve of the hereditary principle that saw his 27-year-old half-brother...

NKorea's Kim, heir apparent son at lavish parade Published October 10, 2010 | Associated Press Clapping, waving and even cracking a smile, Kim Jong Il's son and heir apparent joined his father Sunday at a massive military parade in his most public appearance since being unveiled as North Korea's next leader. Kim Jong Un, dressed in a dark blue civilian suit, sat next to his father on an observatory platform at Kim Il Sung Plaza as tanks carrying rocket-propelled grenades and long-range missiles rolled by as part of celebrations marking the 65th anniversary of the reclusive state's ruling Workers' Party....

(2nd LD) N. Korea vows to bolster nuclear deterrent to counter U.S. threat NEW YORK/SEOUL, Sept. 30 (Yonhap) -- North Korea will not give up but rather bolster its nuclear deterrent as long as the United States threatens the communist nation, a senior diplomat from Pyongyang said Wednesday. Vice Foreign Minister Pak Kil-yon made the remark during a keynote speech at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, claiming that the North's nuclear weapons are for self-defense, not for attacking or threatening others. "As long as the U.S. nuclear aircraft carriers sail around the seas of our country, our nuclear...