Kim consolidates power as N. Korea shuffles leadership
SEOUL: In one of the biggest leadership shake- ups in years, North Korea named a new nominal head of state and a new premier, and gave leader Kim Jong Un a new title, state media reported yesterday, moves analysts said solidify Kim’s grip on power.
In an expected move, Kim Jong Un was re- elected as chairman of the State Affairs Commission at a session of North Korea’s rubberstamp legislature that took place on Thursday, Korean Central News Agency ( KCNA) said.
For the first time, however, state media referred to Kim as “supreme representative of all the Korean people.”
That title was approved by special decree in February, according to the Associated Press, but has not been used publicly until Friday.
It’s unclear whether the changes will be codified in the constitution, but analysts said the shake-up shows Kim has fully come into his own, eight years after he inherited rule from his father, Kim Jong Il.
“The transition and power consolidation of the Kim Jong Un regime is complete,” said Michael Madden, a nonresident North Korea leadership expert with the Stimson Centre, a Washingtonbased think tank.
“This is probably the largest party- government shake-up in many years,” he said.
Since early 2018 Kim has embarked on a push for economic development and international engagement, including historic summits with the leaders of the United States, China and South Korea.
In a message congratulating Kim on his re- election as chairman, Chinese President Xi Jinping said China highly values its friendship with North Korea and is willing to push forward the bilateral relations, China’s official Xinhua news agency reported.
Choe Ryong Hae was named President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of North Korea, replacing Kim Yong Nam.
The person holding that position is constitutionally considered North Korea’s head of state and usually represents the country at diplomatic events, though experts say real power remains concentrated in Kim Jong Un’s hands.
Kim Yong Nam, who was born in 1928, has been one of the longest serving senior officials, having held the position since it was created for him in 1998, Madden said. His replacement, Choe, was subjected to political ‘ reeducation’ in the past, but in recent years appeared to be gaining more influence since he was promoted in October 2017 to the party’s powerful Central Military Commission, South Korean intelligence officials previously said.
Choe was one of the three officials sanctioned by the United States in December over allegations of rights abuses.