North Korea Releases Two Japanese Men, Signals Thaw In Ties

Kim Jong-eun

The North Korean regime on Friday decided two release two Japanese men, who had been arrested last year, thus marking a new approach in the bilateral relations between Japan and North Korea. The Japanese officials said that the release signifies the possibility of a thaw of relations that have been frozen since the end of the WWII. During the war, Japan incuded Korea into its Asian empire.

In spite of this reaction of the authorities, a new personality cult is spreading fast in North Korea around the leader Kim Jong-eun, on Friday, inspiring the NKorean official website Uriminzokkiri to say that the genial leader spearheaded past nuclear tests. The news comes as the West is more and more preoccupied of the new Korean leader’s ability to rule.

North Korea has announced over the last days that the leader had worked closely with his father on military and economic matters. Uriminzokkiri said that the leader “frightened” the enemies of the country by attending nuclear tests in the past.

He was presented as “fully equipped” to be an excellent general, and his studies at the Kim Il-sung military academy were mentioned in support of this claim. It was not made clear when did the new leader spearhead the nuclear testing, which happened in NKorea in 2006 and 2009.

According to the site, Kim Jong-eun was also involved in launching North Korean satellites in space, though mentions were not made as to when did he do that.

Kim Jong-eun took office in December after his father died. He had been presented to the public a year ago, by his father, who initiated him in the succession rites by presenting him to the army and to the Workers’ Party, the party that has been ruling North Korea for the past few decades.

Before he took office, the young Kim was virtually unknown to the people of his country, and to the media all over the world. Since he was presented by his father as the heir apparent, his career advanced at a very rapid pace, as he was made general in one day and presented to the Workers’ Party as the favorite of the generals, which in the power structure of North Korea means that he was fit to rule.

Since he took office, he received the pledge of allegiance from the generals many times over, as well as from the people in the ruling party. At a time it was almost sure that he would rule under the generals, but since he became the dictator he made some moves that indicated he was in control.

The propaganda apparatus goes at great lengths to help building an image for the young leader as a brave and powerful ruler.

However, this image goes against what his half brother, Kim Jong-nam, has said about him, when he depicted his younger brother as inexperienced and powerless. Kim Jong-nam said that North Korea needed a opening of the regime to economic changes, so that it may save the country from collapse. He also protested against the regime’s rule of succession, saying it went against the principles of the Socialism.

The Western countries and the neighboring countries in Asia are preoccupied about the nuclear program of North Korea. Since he took office, Kim Jong-eun led them to believe that he was ready to trade nuclear programs for food for his people.11