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There have been unprecedented signs of changes in North Korea, a country that has maintained its hereditary succession system and cult of personality for more than half a century.
The Russian news agency Itar-Tass reported Tuesday that portraits of the country¡¯s leader Kim Jong-il had been removed from some public buildings. Then on Thursday, the Japanese news agency Radiopress, which monitors North Korea¡¯s media, reported that the country¡¯s official news agency dropped the honorific ¡°Dear Leader¡± from its report of Kim¡¯s visit to an army unit. Some foreign press also made a series of reports on the removal of Kim¡¯s portraits.
Such changes, however, are partial yet. On the same day that the Korean Central News Service dropped its glorifying description of Kim as ¡°Dear Leader,¡± other broadcasting agencies, such as Central Broadcasting and Pyongyang Broadcasting, referred to him as ¡°Dear Supreme Commander Kim Jong-il¡± three times.
It seems obvious, however, that there are some strange signs in the previously perpetual idolization of Kim Jong-il. What do these signs mean?
A government official said that no signs had been detected that showed there was some trouble with Kim¡¯s grasp on power, adding that he heard portraits of Kim in some public places where many foreigners visited were removed on orders from the North Korean leader himself.
Another official said the removal of portraits should be viewed as North Korea¡¯s tactic to focus the cold eye of the international community on Kim¡¯s idolization elsewhere, not as signs of changes in Kim¡¯s power or idolization policies. He added that Kim once ordered his portraits in North Korean schools in Japan to be taken away ahead of summit talks with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in 2002.
The foreign press offered similar analysis. Itar-Tass said the removal was to dispel foreigners' perception that North Korean people idolize Kim. Prof. Nam Sung-wook of the North Korean Studies Department at Korea University said because North Korea still faced economic and diplomatic difficulties, Kim may have judged that hanging his portraits alongside his late father Kim Il-sung could work as a disadvantage to him.
In any case, if the North Korean leader is considering changing his status, which is the most sensitive issue in North Korea, it could affect the situation on the Korean Peninsula in the future. This is why all eyes are on Kim.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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