Jang Song Thaek arrested. NK

[Ahriman238]

Linky for pictures.

By Henry Austin, NBC News contributor

This is the dramatic moment showing the once-powerful uncle of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un being hauled away by police from a political meeting.

The stunning purge of Jang Song Thaek, 67, once considered the force behind the young leader, delivered a chilling message: No one is beyond Kim's reach, not even family.
North Korean state-run news agency KCNA announced Monday that he had “led a dissolute and depraved life” and said he had been dismissed for a string of criminal acts including corruption, womanizing and drug-taking.

"Jang and his followers committed criminal acts baffling imagination and they did tremendous harm to our party and revolution," the agency said in a report following a meeting of the ruling Workers' Party politburo on Sunday.

Kim Jong Un attended and "guided" the meeting which decided to dismiss Jang from all his posts and expel him from the Workers' Party, KCNA said.

"Affected by the capitalist way of living, Jang committed irregularities and corruption and led a dissolute and depraved life," the news agency added, saying the decision to remove him was also based on his mismanagement of the country's financial system and corruption.

"Jang pretended to uphold the party and leader but was engrossed in such factional acts (such) as dreaming different dreams and involving himself in double-dealing behind the scenes," KCNA said.

This is far from Kim's first purge. Several defense ministers and army chiefs have been replaced as the Workers' Party has asserted control over the military after 17 years of military-first rule under late leader Kim Jong Il.

But the ouster of Jang sends the strongest signal to anyone seeking to challenge Kim Jong Un.
Jang was seen as a regent figure as Kim Jong Un was being groomed to succeed his father. He rose in party and military ranks alongside his baby-faced nephew, often dressed in a trim white general's uniform and standing within arm's length of Kim on field visits and at state events.

But his public appearances have tapered off sharply this year and he has not been since in official media since early November. He has also been edited out of a documentary called "The Great Comrade," according to South Korea’s Ministry of Unification.

Jang can be seen in still pictures taken from the original October broadcast of the movie but there was no trace of him when it was re-shown in December.

A South Korean official last week said Jang and his wife were likely alive and in no immediate physical danger despite South Korea's National Intelligence Service confirming the public execution of two close aides.

Huh. He really has been edited out of the film. I wonder whatever happened between him and his nephew/boss. Had to laugh a bit at "dreaming different dreams" being among his vague crimes. Probably a translation issue, in hindsight.

[Kitsune]

It is Monday. . . .

[Ahriman238]

Oh sure, with the purging and "un-personing." But this guy has been a major power in Korea for a long time, was presumed when Kim Jong Un took over to be the power behind the throne, which many people still believed until this happened. Perhaps he was, and that's what caused this, and perhaps not.

[Kitsune]

Knowing North Korea, "Dreaming a Different Dream" could be a crime in North Korea.
Next week it could be Kimmy's new wife with her head on the chopping block
Would like to have Kim Um on a psychologists couch

[K. A. Pital]

Kim Un is acting perfectly rationally removing a grey cardinal behind his back. DPRK is like Game of Thrones on steroids with nukes.

[Metahive]

Not that different from Stalin getting rid of Jezhov, scratching him out from all the photos afterwards, just because the guy got almost as popular as the Vozhd.

[K. A. Pital]

Not that different from Stalin getting rid of Jezhov, scratching him out from all the photos afterwards, just because the guy got almost as popular as the Vozhd.

Commisar Vanishes, yes. But the story is different. Yezhov was not as popular as Stalin (never even close), none of the NKVD chiefs ever were really popular. They were removed since the logic presented them as enemies of the people after they were put on trial and exposed as covert enemies. Yezhov was never a grey cardinal behind Stalin. It is more like the early power-struggles between Stalin, Bukharin, Trotsky etc. There was a degree of power each person wielded, kinda like Jong Un's uncle.

[Metahive]

Now that I think of it an actually better parallel is Mao and Lin Biao. Lin was groomed to become Mao's successor and commanded a hefty chunk of the military which seemed to have gone to his head as he spurned Mao on several occasions which resulted in lots of political scheming until Lin ended up dead in a crashed plane.

[mr friendly guy]

The diplomat article gives the situation more context

http://thediplomat.com/2013/12/china-ke ... rth-korea/

China has long pushed North Korea to follow the Chinese path of development — economic reform and opening up without political change. Such changes would increase North Korea’s economic stability, leading to increase national stability as a whole. A self-sufficient North Korea would be less of a headache for China, particularly if North Korea’s entrance into the global economic system forced the leadership to be more pragmatic regarding their nuclear ambitions.

Jang seemed to be China’s best hope for seeing this economic transition take shape in North Korea. Jang visited China in August 2012, where he met with then-President Hu Jintao and then-Premier Wen Jiabao. The main topic of discussion was economic reform, which resulted in agreements for China and North Korea to cooperate on “special economic zones” along their border. Despite this, the projects stalled and now, with Jang gone, their fate is entirely up in the air.

So Jang seems more receptive to the Chinese idea of setting up special economic zones than Kim.

In addition, one of the many charges leveled against Jang was the accusation that he committed “such acts of treachery as selling off precious resources of the country at cheap prices.” This is almost certainly a reference to North Korea’s exports of iron ore and other minerals to China. Kim Jong-Un had complained previously that North Korea’s resources should be sold for higher prices; now he has labeled Jang’s opposing view “treachery.” This doesn’t bode well for Chinese mine operators in the region, which in turn means North Korea could jeopardize one of its more steady sources of income.

As Zhu Feng, professor of international relations at Peking University, told the New York Times, Jang was “the man China counted on to move the economy in North Korea. This [Jang's dismissal] is a very ominous signal.” Chinese media have also relayed reports from South Korea that the North Korean leadership has begun exporting gold reserves to China. According to the reports, this could be a sign that North Korea is facing its most serious economic crisis since the country’s founding. While speculative, the reports do indicate a concern within China that there may be a crisis on the horizon in North Korea.

So that's what they meant.

Oh, reports are in that they have executed Jang.

[Thanas]

Yezhov was never a grey cardinal behind Stalin. It is more like the early power-struggles between Stalin, Bukharin, Trotsky etc. There was a degree of power each person wielded, kinda like Jong Un's uncle.

The expression is Grey Eminence. The guy who it originated from never was a cardinal.

[Dominus Atheos]

Aaaaaaand he's been executed.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/d ... k-executed

[Kitsune]

Why doesn't somebody with some sanity there just have the whole Kimmy family just have some sort of accident?

[PKRudeBoy]

I would imagine the numerous highly paid, well treated, and thoroughly vetted bodyguards that he almost certainly has would get in the way.

[K. A. Pital]

Yezhov was never a grey cardinal behind Stalin. It is more like the early power-struggles between Stalin, Bukharin, Trotsky etc. There was a degree of power each person wielded, kinda like Jong Un's uncle.

The expression is Grey Eminence. The guy who it originated from never was a cardinal.

In Russian it is literally grey cardinal, though. Like an unofficial cardinal, heh. )

[Thanas]

Probably a bad translation by the Russians then. Éminence grise is the originating term.

[K. A. Pital]

Probably a bad translation by the Russians then. Éminence grise is the originating term.

It is not a translation - I know about the original term. It is merely reductionism by the using population.

[Metahive]

Well, "your eminence" is how you address a cardinal, so it's not really a "bad" translation.

[Thanas]

Well, "your eminence" is how you address a cardinal, so it's not really a "bad" translation.

I think it misses the point a bit, at least if it is translated into English. Grey Cardinal suggests he was called so because of the rank of Cardinal (of Richelieu), whereas Grey Eminence suggests he was called so because he acted like Richelieu. Persönliche Anrede = ganze Person und Macht Richelieus, beim nur kirchlichen Rang tritt mir das zu sehr in den Hintergrund.

[Irbis]

So Jang seems more receptive to the Chinese idea of setting up special economic zones than Kim.

More receptive? Someone who spent his whole life fighting corrupt US imperialism-capitalism system vs someone who spent half his life in Switzerland?

No, I can't see it being due to economic differences. JST being Chinese agent, trying to grab power, being corrupt, or some other reason, yes, pushing capitalism, no.

[mr friendly guy]

So Jang seems more receptive to the Chinese idea of setting up special economic zones than Kim.

More receptive? Someone who spent his whole life fighting corrupt US imperialism-capitalism system vs someone who spent half his life in Switzerland?

No, I can't see it being due to economic differences. JST being Chinese agent, trying to grab power, being corrupt, or some other reason, yes, pushing capitalism, no.

I suspect its more than just because he was receptive to some capitalist reform. I have heard people mention though that Jang was "China's man in Pyonyang" though. I suspect a bit of exaggeration, however I think its reasonable that China preferred him to be "helping out." Most probably because he doesn't sound as crazy as the other family members.

However I wouldn't believe Kim is innately more opposed to some economic reforms just because he spent some formative years in Switzerland. Deng Xiaoping also fought against Japanese, US and decided to embrace some capitalist ideas. Moreover I remember a lecture from Korean expert B.R. Meyers which argues that NK because of their propaganda, literally finds it difficult to adopt any type of reform, because it would be viewed as devastating to its propaganda. Its like someone saying this country is perfect, and then deciding to make changes to improve it. Self contradictory. In NK's case, their narrative is that they are poor because of big bad USA. If they suddenly improve their situation due to economic reforms (which the imperialistic capitalist countries and that traitor to the communist cause China has), then it suggests they are poor because they had bad systems in place.

At least the PRC's leaders engaged in comical cognitive dissonance and double talk to explain why these capitalist reforms are still "Marxist" in nature. I don't think NK short of a massive rethinking of their official mindset, has this type of option.

[Grumman]

At least part of the cause is that Kim is a petty, egotistical little man. If it was not, Jang would not have been accused of not applauding hard enough when he was elected vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission.

[K. A. Pital]

At least the PRC's leaders engaged in comical cognitive dissonance and double talk to explain why these capitalist reforms are still "Marxist" in nature. I don't think NK short of a massive rethinking of their official mindset, has this type of option.

You can generally explain this as "making the necessary development of the means of production" (factories, plants, et cetera) due to general backwardness. It worked for the USSR in the 20s and it worked for China in the 1980s. I don't see a reason it won't work for DPRK - other than it being a hereditary monarchy really and quite different even from a typical Soviet-type bureaucracy.

[Metahive]

I think it misses the point a bit, at least if it is translated into English. Grey Cardinal suggests he was called so because of the rank of Cardinal (of Richelieu), whereas Grey Eminence suggests he was called so because he acted like Richelieu. Persönliche Anrede = ganze Person und Macht Richelieus, beim nur kirchlichen Rang tritt mir das zu sehr in den Hintergrund.

Fair enough.

Here, for your personal amusement, the denouncement of the now executed vile traitor Jang Song Taek

Jang committed such an unpardonable thrice-cursed treason as overtly and covertly standing in the way of settling the issue of succession to the leadership with an axe to grind when a very important issue was under discussion to hold respected Kim Jong Un in high esteem as the only successor to Kim Jong Il in reflection of the unanimous desire and will of the entire party and army and all people.

When his cunning move proved futile and the decision that Kim Jong Un was elected vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party of Korea at the Third Conference of the WPK in reflection of the unanimous will of all party members, service personnel and people was proclaimed, making all participants break into enthusiastic cheers that shook the conference hall, he behaved so arrogantly and insolently as unwillingly standing up from his seat and half-heartedly clapping, touching off towering resentment of our service personnel and people.

Jang confessed that he behaved so at that time as a knee-jerk reaction as he thought that if Kim Jong Un’s base and system for leading the army were consolidated, this would lay a stumbling block in the way of grabbing the power of the party and state.

http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2013/201312/ ... -05ee.html

This sounds like something out of a preschooler's 1984 fanfic. The North Koreans got nothing on good ol' Andrei Vyzhinsky.

[K. A. Pital]

You're wrong: Vyshinsky has nothing on the DPRK. He tried to make kangaroo courts look serious. The DPRK is way more honest.

[PKRudeBoy]

Well, "your eminence" is how you address a cardinal, so it's not really a "bad" translation.

I think it misses the point a bit, at least if it is translated into English. Grey Cardinal suggests he was called so because of the rank of Cardinal (of Richelieu), whereas Grey Eminence suggests he was called so because he acted like Richelieu. Persönliche Anrede = ganze Person und Macht Richelieus, beim nur kirchlichen Rang tritt mir das zu sehr in den Hintergrund.

I think at least some of the confusion comes from the fact that Richelieu himself is probably the most iconic power behind the throne in history, so Pere Joseph tends to be forgotten about. Just as planned for the power behind the power behind the throne.