Through a meeting of delegates to the ruling Worker’s Party, North Korea has officially started the process of third-generation power transfer from late North Korean leader Kim Il-sung to his son Kim Jong-il, and again from Kim Jong-il to his son Kim Jong-un. The eyes of the world are on the secretive North, with many wondering whether a third-generation dynastic power succession, unprecedented in modern history, will actually materialize. The Workers’ Party convened the third convention of party representatives in Pyongyang on Tuesday, September 28. This is the first meeting of party delegates in 44 years. The party representatives re-nominated National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il as general secretary of the party, while Kim’s third son Kim Jong-un was appointed vice chairman of the party’s Central Military Commission and also member of the party’s Central Committee. Prior to that, in the early morning of September 28, the North Korean media reported that Kim Jong-un was awarded the title of general in the Korean People’s Army. Oh Il-hwan, head of the Korea Education and Research Institute for Patriots and Veterans, explains that appointing the younger Kim to the position of vice chairman of the Central Military Commission was aimed at placing him as No.2 man in the military, thereby granting him a grip on the military.

The conference is attended by party delegates from across the country. It is convened to deal with important issues, such as devising major policies, the party line, urgent matters related to strategies and tactics, and the appointment and dismissal of members and candidate members of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party. Naming Kim Jong-un as vice chairman of the party’s Central Military Commission is interpreted as current leader Kim Jong-il’s intent to lead the commission together with his son. In North Korea, where “military-first politics” dominate, Kim Jong-il’s third and youngest son, Jong-un, has officially been tapped to succeed his father.

Kim Jong-un reportedly studied in Switzerland for five years and returned to Pyongyang in 2002 to attend the Kim Il-sung Military College. He is known as an ambitious and strong-willed person, and he takes after his father in personality more than either of his two brothers. The junior Kim, who is still in his late 20s, has finally been proclaimed as Kim Jong-il’s successor, less than two years after he was designated heir apparent in January last year. The power transition to Jong-un is being carried out very fast, compared with the leadership transfer process from his grandfather Kim Il-sung to his father Kim Jong-il. Why is the succession plan proceeding in such haste?

Despite the re-induction of Kim Jong-il as the party’s general secretary, the North Korean leader’s poor health is still a serious problem. North Korea inspires its people to work hard, reminding them that 2012 will be the first year of building a prosperous North Korea. Of course, the purpose is to strengthen internal solidarity. But psychologically, North Korea is evidently feeling the pressure. The North promised its people a prosperous nation, but it’s quite obvious that this will never really come true. In another interpretation of the year 2012, the North seems to have set the year as the time to complete the power transfer plan. The hasty power transition plan has to do with Kim Jong-il’s deteriorating health. The leader may end up lying in his sickbed. If that happens, a power struggle will be intensified. Having this possibility in mind, the North quickly started the process of a power succession to the younger Kim.

Chairman Kim seems to have formulated a power structure to ensure that the young successor is supported by his blood relatives and close aides. A total of six people, including Kim Jong-un, were promoted to generals. The others include Kim Kyong-hui, Kim Jong-il’s sister and the wife of Jang Song-thaek, vice chairman of the powerful National Defense Commission, Choe Ryong-hae and Kim Kyong-ok, who are longtime aides to Chairman Kim. Of particular note is Ri Yong-ho, chief of the general staff of the Korean People’s Army, who was promoted to a rank of “Chasu,” higher than a four-star general. Known as a close associate to Jang Song-thaek, Ri is expected to play a key role in helping Kim Jong-un establish leadership in the military. But it is uncertain whether the father-to-son power succession supported by relatives and aides will proceed smoothly.

Giving Kim Jong-un the title of general and the position of vice chairman of the Central Military Commission has much to do with the military. As North Korea has always put priority on the military, the rise of the military is an inevitable trend. And there is a possibility of a serious conflict between the party and the military. The official name of North Korea is the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. But in reality, the nation has built a modern-day autocratic dynasty. It is only natural that ordinary citizens complain their nation is nothing but a despotic monarchy, far from a republic. The anachronistic hereditary power transfer may cause a backlash from North Korean people and even within the leadership.

Meanwhile, the U.S., China and Japan are closely watching how the internal situation in North Korea evolves. Chinese President Hu Jintao sent a congratulatory message to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to express support for the North’s power transition plan, while the U.S. made a sarcastic comment about the succession scheme, calling it “the ultimate reality show.” U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said that the situation is unfolding in real time and that the U.S. is watching the matter just as the media is. The South Korean government is refraining from making official comments while observing the situation carefully. So then, how will the North’s power succession influence future inter-Korean relations and diplomacy in Northeast Asia? Mr. Oh says it’s hard to expect substantial progress on inter-Korean ties, and he does not rule out the possibility that North Korea may heighten tension yet again.

North Korea may expect something from South Korea to ease its economic difficulty, which will be essential to solidifying the path for a power succession. The North is expected to seek improved relations with South Korea in order to gain economic benefits, while blocking South Korea from influencing North Korean people in ideological and cultural ways. But the Seoul government won’t likely provide a large amount of aid to the North unless Pyongyang accepts its responsibility for the Cheonan incident. North Korean authorities, for their part, may use the strained inter-Korean relations to strengthen internal unity and justify the power transfer plan. Japan and the U.S. seem to assume that the current North Korean situation will make it even harder to promote dialogue. They don’t expect much progress from the six-party nuclear talks. Similarly, I don’ think diplomacy in Northeast Asia will improve anytime soon.

Most experts agree that North Korea will face serious setbacks until its power transfer process stabilizes. As the North’s power transition will certainly influence regional diplomacy, South Korea and other involved countries should monitor the North Korean situation closely and review their respective North Korea policies.



[Interview] Defector Establishes Garment Manufacturing Firm The place is alive with the ceaseless operation of sewing machines and busy workers. This is Sujin Apparel, a plant processing clothes by commission, located in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. The plant manager is Kang Hak-sil, a North Korean defector who successfully transformed herself into the head of a garment manufacturing firm nine years after she arrived in South Korea. Kang founded the firm in August last year with three employees. Currently, the company produces well-known brands sold at department stores under original equipment manufacturing or OEM deals. Kang says she had a special reason for choosing clothing, among other things, for her business.

Many women defectors from North Korea obtain certificates related to beauty treatment, skin care and electric computer accounting. Unfortunately, they fail to get jobs even if they are certificate holders. Even South Korean people with college degrees and such certificates have a hard time in finding jobs. Little wonder North Korean expatriates face many difficulties and limitations, especially due to the language barrier. It came to me that many women from North Korea used to engage in sewing or dressmaking in their home country. This job is all about skills, isn’t it? For women defectors, I thought it would be ideal to create jobs associated with this particular profession.

Currently, seven female defectors from North Korea are working as assistants at this sewing factory with other South Korean staff. Although the factory is still in the initial stage of development, it has fared pretty well, with sales surpassing 200 million won, or about 170-thousand US dollars, last year. The garment manufacturer even exports its products to Japan. How was Ms. Kang able to develop her company in such an impressive way in just one year?

Manufacturers must produce goods exactly the way the sellers want and deliver the products on time. We’re focused on this, since it is the key to gaining credit. Well, I wouldn’t say I’ve achieved success. It’s just the beginning. Once an idea strikes me, I never hesitate. I do at once what I think is right. I hope I have enough drive and wits to perform my job. I don’t know what the result will be, but that’s how I’ve come this far. I believe I can do it.

Kang set foot on South Korean soil in 2002 in search of freedom. She worked as a nurse’s aide and a saleswoman at a local company in South Korea. In the meantime, she saw many defectors who failed to resettle in South Korea due to the difficulty of landing jobs. Determined to do something useful for the unlucky newcomers, she began to engage in activities aimed at helping defectors find jobs. Later, she served as the representative of the Coalition for North Korean Women’s Rights to provide job training to women defectors. And she started her own business to hire her fellow North Korean expatriates. To set up the clothing manufacturing factory in Bucheon, she bought used machines with her own savings and support funds from the Small and Medium Business Corporation. It was far from easy to run a business in an unfamiliar South Korean environment, but she gained courage thanks to the devoted employees who trusted and supported her. Two employees share their opinions.

Ms. Kang is a positive person. What a loving woman she is! She is always eager to do favors for other people. I learn a lot from her. At a factory like this, employees usually have to work hard and quickly so the company can earn more profit. In that process, workers and the boss may find it difficult to trust one another. But Ms. Kang always tries to help us, which encourages us to work even harder.

I find my work fun and rewarding. I didn’t really care about what kind of clothes people wore in the past. But now, I carefully look at people’s clothes, wondering if the clothes were made in this factory. That makes me feel happy.

Sujin Apparel has already secured orders for this year. It has recently set up a branch, “Hope Apparel,” in Sinwol-dong, western Seoul, to deal with the increasing orders. A total of 30 people, including nine North Korean defectors, are working at this factory, which was designated by Seoul City as one of the social enterprises committed to creating jobs for the vulnerable sector of society. But Ms. Kang’s dream doesn’t end here.

Sujin Apparel is planning to eventually sell products under its own brand. It’s a feasible plan since we have competent and skilled staff. As an employer, I think I have to provide them with better welfare. The purpose of a social enterprise is to share profits with employees. I hope to cultivate this factory into a beautiful company where the boss and the employees cooperate with one another and build a win-win relationship.

Ms. Kang is nurturing her hopes in South Korea. Her firm belief and confidence will surely provide hope and courage to many more defectors from North Korea.