North Korea Will Have a Collective Leadership

Jang Song-thaek

North Korea will have a new power structure type in the wake of the demise of the former leader Kim Jong-il, as the heir apparent, Kim Jong-eun is expected to share power with his uncle and with the military leaders. Kim Jong-eun is the son of former dictator and represents the family tradition of Kim, which has been ruling the nation since the World War Two. The new power structure means that for the first time since 1948, when the Communist state was founded, NKorea will be governed by a group of people.

Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il were all-powerful rulers, while Kim Jong-eun will have to rely on the help of the military and a very powerful member of the family. The move was predicted since last year, when young Kim Jong-eun was presented to the NKorean public for the first time.

Young Kim was made a general of the army last year, before a congress of the Workers’ Party. That was a sign that he was accepted by the military, but it was also a sign that the military may control him.

The military has pledged allegiance to the young Kim, thus removing all possible speculation that a military coup could be staged. The leader of the country is thought to be Jang Song-thaek, brother-in-law to late Kim Jong-il, and uncle to the “great successor,” who is in his late 20s and is expected to consolidate power.

Kim Jong-eun is said to have been able to gather some support from the young NKoreans, meaning that in the future a new generation is expected to emerge.

Many analysts consider that the regime will survive in Pyongyang because its survival is tied to the survival of its leaders, and that for this reason they will not let it collapse.

There is hope that young Kim and his uncle will take the country down the road of reformation and that the country will finally reach some sort of development.