N Korea reshuffle gives clues to Kim succession

The brother-in-law of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-il was promoted on Monday by the country’s parliament to a key defence role as part of a leadership reshuffle that analysts said appeared to be aimed at ensuring a smooth transition of power from Mr Kim to his third son, Kim Jong-eun.

The reshuffle, unveiled at a rare second annual parliamentary session, saw Kim Yong-il, North Korea’s prime minister, the man in charge of economic policy, cast aside for what analysts interpreted as his oversight of last year’s failed currency revaluation. Also replaced were three of the country’s vice premiers, according to state media.

The moves come as Pyongyang faces mounting tensions with South Korea after Seoul blamed the communist regime for torpedoing the navy warship Cheonan, killing 46 sailors. North Korea denies responsibility for the attack.

Kim Jong-il attended the parliamentary session personally to promote Chang Sung-taek, his brother-in-law, to vice chairman of the National Defence Commission, North Korea’s highest military body.

Analysts said the shake up was also intended to allow a successful transfer of power from Mr Kim, who suffered a stroke in 2008, to his third son. Chang Sung-taek is known as one of Mr Kim’s closest allies backing the succession.

“Mr Chang is likely to oversee the power succession to the third generation of the Kim dynasty. He may play a role as an interim leader, paving the way for Jong-eun to finally succeed his father,” said Kim Yong-hyun, professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk university in Seoul.

He said the appointments were also meant to rally North Koreans behind the communist regime to stave off rising external pressure.

Last week South Korea asked the UN Security Council to censure Pyongyang, which in turn threatened to retaliate over the “intolerable provocation”.

The outgoing premier was replaced by Choe Yong-rim, a senior official of the ruling party, who analysts expect to try to revive the economy by strengthening ties with China.

Mr Choe gave a speech recently at a mass rally in Pyongyang, where about 100,000 North Koreans gathered to denounce South Korea and the US for blaming Pyongyang for the Cheonan incident.

Kim Jong-il did not attend the parliament’s previous one-day meeting earlier this year.

Analysts expect him to try to accelerate reform of the moribund economy and attract foreign investment after his recent visit to China. Pyongyang is seeking Chinese investment in the port of Rajin, in north-east North Korea.

Already suffering from crippling power and food shortages, North Korea bungled its currency reform last year, which triggered sharp inflation, closed food markets and sparked extremely unusual flashes of popular discontent.