N. KOREA VENTURES INTO DYNASTIC RULE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000504720015-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 24, 2012
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: April 3, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/24: CIA-RDP90-00965R000504720015-1
~rtlr!_l 0,
1 1 1
ONUM
1 t
i Edward Neilan
WASHINGTON TIMES
3 April 1985
N. Korea ventures
into dynastic rule
Communism's first venture into dynastic rule will
occur in October when Kim Jong-il, son of North
Korean President Kim Il-sung, officially steps into
his father's shoes.
That at least, is the consensus of whispers ema-
nating from various intelligence agencies in
'the very select rou o specialists known as
North Korea watchers. Japan's Public Security
Investigation A enc (P a government body
which gathers information on and analyzes the
activities of communist nations, has said recently
that ongyan appears to be in t e final stages of
trans er o power.
Succession in North Korea is one of several
changes due at the top of Asian nations over the
next few years. President Chiang Ching-kuo of the
Republic of China on Taiwan, President Ferdinand
Marcos of The Philippines, President Suharto of
Indonesia, China's Deng Xiaoping, Burma's Ne Win,
Singapore's Lee Kilian Yew and the aging collective
leadership of Vietnam all will be absent from the
Asian power picture within a few years.
In every case, there are elements of uncertainty
about the policies the country will follow under new
leadership. This could contribute to instability in
the region.
In no situation is the uncertainty more pro-
nounced than in North Korea.
Kim II-sung has ruled North Korea since 1945,
when the peninsula was freed from 35 years of Jap-
anese occupation but was divided along the 38th
parallel to ease the disarming of Japanese forces at
the end of World War II.
So little is known of son Kim Jong-il that
descriptions of him usually dwell on physical char-
acteristics and habits rather than ideological or
intellectual qualities. One rather disrespectful
Western commentator described the younger Mr.
Kim as possessing a "heroic abdominal overhang,
known in most Western circles as a beer belly." He
is also said to be a chain smoker, like his father.
The heir apparent turned 43 in February and the
state-controlled North Korean media began imme-
diately to heap additional praise on him. He has
been described as an outstanding leader of the rul-
ing Workers (Communist) Party in directing the
nation to complete the ideological, technical and
cultural revolution started by his father.
The younger Mr. Kim was awarded the title of
"hero" on his 40th birthday and is now called "the
dear leader" by the North Korean media. The elder
Mr. Kim is referred to as "the respected leader" or
"the great leader." The word "leader" is reserved
exclusively for the two Kims and the term "party
center" is a euphemism or code name for the youn-
ger Mr. Kim in official publications.
Some intelligence assessments had earlier inti-
mated that there was resistance from senior North
Korean military officers to the younger Mr. Kim's
elevation because of his relative inexperience m
anything but party affairs. Two years ago there
were rumors of an assassination attempt on him.
Speculation became rampant when the North Kore-
ans purchased 14 bulletproof Cadillac limousines
through a Japanese dealer who had some heavy-
duty modifications made in Yokohama before ship-
ping the autos on to North Korea.
There was speculation that both Moscow and
Peking were at least mildly upset at the prospect of
North Korea providing communism's first hered-
itary dynasty. More than likely, they are delighted at
the' rigidity that the perpetuation of the Kim
dynasty implies.
Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Kapitsa
conferred Moscow's blessings on the younger Mr.
Kim in a visit to Pyongyang last November. In June
1983, China did the same on a 12-day visit during
which Mr. Kim met Mr. Deng and other top Chinese
leaders.
The younger Mr. Kim has been the second-
highest ranking North Korean since 1980 when he
was placed No. 2 in the 10-member party secretar-
iat after his father, who is general secretary. That is
the title the younger Mr. Kim is expected to
assume in October.
He also has joined the five-man policy-making
presidium of the politburo, the 19-member polit-
buro and the 10-member military commission.
Some American observers express casual "Who
cares?" reactions to discussion of leadership
change in the world's most thoroughly regimented
and communized nation.
But intelligence analysts are watching for signs
of friction and resentment within the upper eche-
lons of the military and any tendencies toward irra-
tionality on the part of the younger Mr. Kim that
might lead to military adventure against South
Korea.
Edward Neilan is foreign editor of The Times.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/24: CIA-RDP90-00965R000504720015-1