On Sunday December 8 Jang-Song theak the uncle of North Korean ruler Kim-Jong un was arrested during a meeting of that nations communist party 4 days later in was executed for various crimes against the state. Jang-Song theak is related to the younger Kim through his aunt the sister of his father and late ruler of North Korea Kim-Jong il. Jang was considered by many outside observers to be the second most powerful person in the country. He held several high level positions including being the lead Representative for Economic issues with China the North's only Allie. Having such a high profile and being married to the former leaders sister might preclude one from such a swift downfall from power followed by a show trial and his execution.
Because so little is known about the inner workings of the North Korean government one can only speculate as what might have led Kim-Jong un to take such drastic action. Was Jang really a threat to Kim-Jung un's hold on power? Did he go to far in trying to reform the North's economy? Or did he believe that given who he was the state would never prosecute him for any real or imagined misdeeds?
Going back to the first question was Jang a threat to the Kim's families power perhaps, but one might also argue that the younger Kim's control of the North's levers of power was tenuous as best and decided to use his uncle as an example to other members of the countries ruling elite. No one is above reproach when it comes to showing their loyalty to the Kim family.
Here is what some analysts had to say about the current situation in North Korea:
Here's what some thing of paranoia
Because so little is known about the inner workings of the North Korean government one can only speculate as what might have led Kim-Jong un to take such drastic action. Was Jang really a threat to Kim-Jung un's hold on power? Did he go to far in trying to reform the North's economy? Or did he believe that given who he was the state would never prosecute him for any real or imagined misdeeds?
Going back to the first question was Jang a threat to the Kim's families power perhaps, but one might also argue that the younger Kim's control of the North's levers of power was tenuous as best and decided to use his uncle as an example to other members of the countries ruling elite. No one is above reproach when it comes to showing their loyalty to the Kim family.
Here is what some analysts had to say about the current situation in North Korea:
Kim Jong Un "has managed to tarnish his own image, look like a modern Caligula and give the lie to 90 percent of the bombast emanating from Pyongyang," said Bruce Cumings, a Korea specialist and history professor at the University of Chicago, adding that the move indicates high-level and deep divisions."Whatever one thinks of this regime, from the standpoint of the top leadership this was a politically stupid, self-defeating move," he said.
Here's what some thing of paranoia
"We now know for sure that the Kim regime is afraid of the emergence of a renegade insider who may attempt to take advantage of the North's economic problems and the people's yearning for a better life to seize power with military backing," Alexandre Mansourov, a North Korea specialist, wrote on the website 38 North. "This prospect keeps Kim Jong Un awake at night.
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