Chapter 5: From Kim Jong Il to Kim Jong Unfaculty.washington.edu/sangok/NorthKorea/T'ae Yongho Ch...

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1 From T’ae Yŏngho (2018) T’ae Yŏngho chŭngŏn, Samch’ŭng sŏgisil ŭi amho (T’ae Yŏngho’s Testimony, Password to the Third Floor Secretariat). Seoul: Kip’arang. Translation © Clark W. Sorensen January 3, 2019 Chapter 5: From Kim Jong Il to Kim Jong Un After the First Nuclear Test, “Diplomats Must Repatriate All But One Child” I finished my duties as diplomat in England, and disembarked in P’yŏngyang with my family in January 2008. I returned with a magnificent gift. In 2007 my oldest child was miraculously completely cured. This was thanks to the genuine child treatment of the medical staff and the development of modern medicine. My eldest child from 2004 spent three years receiving regular outpatient treatment in London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital. 1 When I heard from the attending physician, “Since your son is completely cured there’s no need to come to the hospital now” I felt delivered by heaven. While apart from the doctor my wife and I somehow wanted to meet him again to pay our respects. “As a doctor, ‘Let’s meet again,’ is my most hated greeting,” he laughed. “That you want to visit me again means that your son has relapsed, and that’s terrible.” My wife and I bowed our heads several times to express our thanks. Early in 2007, the year before we returned home, an order dropped like a thunderbolt on the Foreign Ministry for diplomats living abroad with two or more children. It ordered only one child to be kept and the rest be repatriated. I was pressed to keep my eldest and send the second one back home. It was a measure that came down after the implementation of the first nuclear test (October 2006) when the international environment got more difficult. This measure was picked up by foreign news organizations and became known all over the world so that foreign diplomats stationed in P’yŏngyang even requested public confirmation from the Foreign Ministry. In February 2007 Cha Sŏngnam the North Korean Ambassador to England was presenting his credentials to the queen when English ambassador to North Korea John Everard, who was also present, turned to me and asked, “Which of your two children are you going to send?” When I said, “I’m scheduled to be reassigned to the Foreign Ministry this year anyway, so I’ll take them with me then,” he fretted, “Consul T’ae, is that okay?” 1 [translator’s note] A hospital famous for pediatric medicine.

Transcript of Chapter 5: From Kim Jong Il to Kim Jong Unfaculty.washington.edu/sangok/NorthKorea/T'ae Yongho Ch...

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    FromT’aeYŏngho(2018)T’aeYŏnghochŭngŏn,Samch’ŭngsŏgisilŭiamho(T’aeYŏngho’sTestimony,PasswordtotheThirdFloorSecretariat).Seoul:Kip’arang.Translation©ClarkW.SorensenJanuary3,2019

    Chapter5:FromKimJongIltoKimJongUn

    AftertheFirstNuclearTest,“DiplomatsMustRepatriateAllButOneChild”IfinishedmydutiesasdiplomatinEngland,anddisembarkedinP’yŏngyangwithmyfamilyinJanuary2008.Ireturnedwithamagnificentgift.In2007myoldestchildwasmiraculouslycompletelycured.Thiswasthankstothegenuinechildtreatmentofthemedicalstaffandthedevelopmentofmodernmedicine.Myeldestchildfrom2004spentthreeyearsreceivingregularoutpatienttreatmentinLondon’sGreatOrmondStreetHospital.1WhenIheardfromtheattendingphysician,“Sinceyoursoniscompletelycuredthere’snoneedtocometothehospitalnow”Ifeltdeliveredbyheaven.WhileapartfromthedoctormywifeandIsomehowwantedtomeethimagaintopayourrespects.“Asadoctor,‘Let’smeetagain,’ismymosthatedgreeting,”helaughed.“Thatyouwanttovisitmeagainmeansthatyoursonhasrelapsed,andthat’sterrible.”MywifeandIbowedourheadsseveraltimestoexpressourthanks.Earlyin2007,theyearbeforewereturnedhome,anorderdroppedlikeathunderboltontheForeignMinistryfordiplomatslivingabroadwithtwoormorechildren.Itorderedonlyonechildtobekeptandtherestberepatriated.Iwaspressedtokeepmyeldestandsendthesecondonebackhome.Itwasameasurethatcamedownaftertheimplementationofthefirstnucleartest(October2006)whentheinternationalenvironmentgotmoredifficult.ThismeasurewaspickedupbyforeignnewsorganizationsandbecameknownallovertheworldsothatforeigndiplomatsstationedinP’yŏngyangevenrequestedpublicconfirmationfromtheForeignMinistry.InFebruary2007ChaSŏngnamtheNorthKoreanAmbassadortoEnglandwaspresentinghiscredentialstothequeenwhenEnglishambassadortoNorthKoreaJohnEverard,whowasalsopresent,turnedtomeandasked,“Whichofyourtwochildrenareyougoingtosend?”WhenIsaid,“I’mscheduledtobereassignedtotheForeignMinistrythisyearanyway,soI’lltakethemwithmethen,”hefretted,“ConsulT’ae,isthatokay?”

    1[translator’snote]Ahospitalfamousforpediatricmedicine.

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    AlmostallthediplomatslivingabroadswallowedtheirtearsandcarriedouttheorderflowninfromP’yŏngyang,butIheldoutuntiltheend.IwastheonlyoneinNorthKorea’sLondonembassynotfollowthedirective.Rank1EmbassySecretaryRiKwangnimsenthisyoungelementaryschoolchildbacktoNorthKorea,andkepthismiddleschooleldestinLondon.ItwaswhenIfinishedmyoverseasduties.WhileIhadappealed,“Sincemywholefamilyisgoingtoberepatriatedwithmesoonanyway,pleaseletthemstaywithmeacouplemoremonths,”privatelyIfelttheactionsoftheauthoritieswerejusttoocruel.Ithinkmyloveformylittleonesisnodifferentfromthatofanyfatherraisinghischildren.IwaspreparedtofaceabuseinlifesummaryafterIreturned,butintheendIdidn’tsendmychildrenbacktoP’yŏngyang.AssoonasIgotbackIwassummonedtolifesummary(selfcriticism).Butanyway,whenIwenttolifesummary,farfrombeingcriticizedIheardthisconsolation.“Icanunderstandyourstateofmind.Whatcanyoudo?Revolutionissuchadifficultthing,andsometimesonehastobereadytosacrifice.SoisourrevolutionthatmuchharderthantherevolutionofIndiawithitsbillionorsoresidentsandadifferentlanguageandrace?”Itwasthereactionaftermyself-criticism,“Ijustfeltsorryformykidsandwantedtobewiththem.I’vecommittedthegravesinofnotcarryingoutPartypolicy.Ihavereflecteddeeplyonit.Iaskforforgiveness.”Iwasevenmoreashamed.CentralPartycadreswhentheyreturntotheirfamilieshavethesamepointofview,sotheyseemedtohavegivenmetheirunderstanding.Iwasthankful.

    IBegintoWrite“Stories”inthePartyMeetingRecordsAbitlaterIwasappointedEuropeBureauChiefandPumundangSecretary.IntheForeignMinistrytheBureauChiefisresponsibleforadministrationandtheBureauChiefiscommonlytheoneresponsibleforPartyorganization.Ifthebureauhasfewerthanthirtypersonsthebureauchiefbecomesthe[Party]cellsecretary,andifithasmorethanthirtypersonsitbecomesa[Party]pumundangandthebureauchiefisjointlypumundangsecretary.TheEuropeBureauthatIbelongedtohadmorethanthirtyPartymembersandthreecellshadbeenorganized.Theorganizationwasthateachcellhadacellsecretary,andthepumundangsecretarysupervisedthecellsecretaries.ActuallyitwasbeyondmycapacitytobejointlyEuropeBureauChiefandPumundangSecretary.Thepumundangsecretary’sworkdaybeginswithdustingtheportraitsofKimIlSungandKimJongIl.OnealsohastosweeptheKimfatherandsonartworkshanginginthehallways.Ididn’thavetopersonallysweep,butitwasmyresponsibilityaspumundangsecretarytoleadandsupervisetheBureau

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    employees.InNorthKoreasuchsweepingiscalleda“devotion2task”andinallorganizationstheworkdaybeginswiththistask.TheworkIhatedthemostwasunderstandingofcolleagues’ideologicalstatusandreportingittothePartyCommitteeoftheForeignMinistry.At2:00PMeverydayIwouldgouptothePartyCommitteeonthe4thFloorandhavetoreportincidentsthathadcomeupinthebureauthatdayandirregularitiesthataroseinthelifeofbureaupersonnel.Evenprivatematterslikeconjugalquarrelsorsexualindulgencesweresubjecttoreport.Inordertoreportlikethisfromaround11:00AMeverydayIwouldwalkaroundtheofficeandhavetoenquirefromeachpersonwhetheranythinghadhappenedsincethedaybefore.Thissortofsurveillancewastriplicated,quadruplicatedthroughtheParty,theStateSecurityDepartment(Powibu),MinistryofPeople’sSecurity(Poanbu),andsoforth.WhatwashardestandIhatedmostaspumundangsecretarywasthetaskeverySaturdayofupdatingtheLifeSummaryLedgerandthePartyMeetingforms.LifesummarywasheldeverySaturdayfrom9:00to9:30am.Itproceededbymeansofself-criticismandmutualcriticism.MytaskwastorecordtheseinPartyMeetingMinutesanddeliverthemtothePartyCommittee.Writingthingsdownwasn’tdifficult,butitwashardonmybraintocomposethings.FromsometimeagoPartymembersdidself-criticismbutnotmutualcriticism.Afterwarningthemtodomutualcriticismbeforeeverymeetingbeganthemeetingwouldbegin,butalmostnoPartymembersparticipatedinmutualcriticism.Ontheoutsidenobodyexpressedanything,butwholikesreddeningfacesandraisedvoices?YetthePartyCommitteeconsideredPartymember’sparticipationinmutualcriticismveryimportant.TheydiagnoseditasasymptomweakeningPartyfunctioning.ThePartyCommitteedemandedstrenuouseffortsbythecellandpumundangsecretaries,andusedtoauditthemeetingminutesfrequently.Sincethecomradesdidn’tparticipateinmutualcriticismintheendIhadnochoicebuttomakeupmanymutualcriticismsinmyheadandrecordtheminthePartymeetingminutes.InawordIseemtohavewrittenfiction.InthiswaytheenergyoftheWorkers’Partywasdissipating.

    ‘CollectiveFunds’MoreVitalThanSalary,‘Solidarity’throughMarriageandSportAspumundangsecretaryImanagedtheEuropeBureau’s“collectivefunds.”AsNorthKorea’ssocialistwelfaresystemandfinancialhealthcollapsedwhatwasparadoxicallyactivatedwerecollectivefunds.Thesewerefundsmembersprepared2[translator’snote]TheKoreantermchŏngsŏngmeansearnestness,butalsoincludesdevotioninthereligioussense.

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    andcollectivelyused,andconsistedofonlyforeigncurrency.Thefinalmanagerofthecollectivefundsisthebureauhead.Touseevenapennywaspossibleonlywiththepermissionofthebureauhead.Peoplerepatriatedfromabroaddeposited$100inthebureauascollectivemoney.InthecaseoftheEuropeBureauanaverageof7-10personscamefromabroadeachyear,andasimilarnumberweredispatchedtoforeignembassies.Ifyoutookevenabusinesstripyouhadtodeposit$20.OnlyplaceswithoutaNorthKoreanembassywereanexception.Preparedinthiswayeachyearwesavedacouplethousandormoredollars.Becausewithone’ssalaryreceivedinNorthKoreancurrencyyoucouldn’tevenbuy1kgofrice,thecollectivefundsareusedveryeffectively.Itsusesarequitevarious.IfsomebodyisadmittedtothehospitalNorthKoreancustomistogiveacoupleofboxesofliquortothedoctor.Ifcentralpartycadresshowupwehavetogivethemcigarettes.Becausethegreatmajorityofthemdidn’tliveaswellaslowerlevelofficialsintheForeignMinistrycentralpartycadreswhocametotheForeignMinistrylookforthingsbeginningwithcigarettes.Liquorandtobaccogenerallyareboughtatforeignexchangeshops.Sincethisisbeyondwhatsalariescanbearwehadtousecollectivefunds.Inadditionforeigncurrencywasrequiredtobuythenecessaryliquor,meat,vegetables,andsoforthforallsortsofcondolenceandcongratulatoryceremonies.Withthisandthatthereweremanyoccasionstospendmoney.AnofficeliketheEuropeBureauwithmuchinteractionwiththeoutsidehaslotsofcollectivefundssoitislessburdensomeforofficemembers.ButofficesbelongingtothesameForeignMinistrythatdidn’thaveinteractionwiththeoutsidehadnomoneyandoftenwereembarrassed.EachsubsectionintheEuropeBureaualsohadcollectivemoney.OnecouldsaythattherewereseveregapsbetweenrichandpoorwithintheForeignMinistry.Onedifficultthingaspumundangsecretaryishavingtoconstantlydrinkliquor.InNorthKoreaifyouwanttobeaPartyworkeryouneedtotakegoodcareofcongratulationsandcondolencesintheofficeorbureautowhichyoubelong.IfPartyworkerswanttogoamongthepeopleitisrequiredthatyouparticipateinallfamilyceremoniesthatariseintheofficetowhichyoubelong.TheForeignMinistryEuropeBureauforwhichIhadresponsibilityhadaboutfiftymembers.Therewasamarriageorfuneralalmosteverymonth.Marriageswerecomparativelyeasy.Itwasenoughifyoudrankalittleandcongratulatedthem.Thesituationwithfuneralswasdifferent.IfamemberoftheEuropeBureauiswaseldestsonofthedeceased[matsangje]thebureautakeschargeofputtingonthefuneral.ThebureaufirstorganizesafuneralcommitteeandsendsacoupleofmemberstomakeacoffinandreserveObongcrematorium.Thisisjustthe

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    beginning.Thefuneralcommitteehastosuperviseallfuneralceremoniesuntilthefuneraliscompleted.InSouthKoreafuneralscelebratedatthehousehavealmostdisappeared,butinNorthKoreaafterholdingathree-dayceremonyatthehouseoftheeldestsonorofthedeceasedthebodyisthensentout[tothecrematorium].Iasthepumundangsecretaryhadtogooutfromthefirstdaytoreceivecondolencesandonthatdaykeepwatchuntilmidnightwhenthebodyisplacedinthecoffin.Sowewouldspendthewholenightplayingcardsanddrinking.Formethiswasatiresometask,buttherewasnoalternative.Ihadtosuperintendfuneralsontheorderoftwiceamonth.WithintheForeignMinistrybecauseonlytheEuropeBureauwasstillinprettygoodfinancialshape,everytimeweputonamember’smarriageorfuneraltheEuropeBureau’simprovedfeelingofonenessandsolidaritywasofpositiveimportance.AmongthereasonstheEuropeBureauwonfirstplaceinvolleyballandtabletennisintheForeignMinistryathleticexercisestwoyearsinarowisthankstothemembers’groupsolidarity.HereIfeltconfident,andthinkthisisaresultIachievedforthefirsttimeasForeignMinistryEuropeBureauheadandpumundang.TheForeignMinistryconvenedathleticgamesfourtimesayear.KimJongIl’sbirthdayonFebruary16thisStarofHopeDay3,KimIlSung’sbirthdayonApril15thisSunDay,thebirthdayofKimJongIl’sbirthmotherKimChŏngsukisDecember24th.Duringathleticeventsthebureauheadandbureauviceheadmustabsolutelyparticipateinthevolleyballandtabletennis.Thatisbecausethetwosportsareconsideredthefoundationoftheathleticevents.Thusifacadrecan’tplayvolleyballortabletennisheparticipateswiththequalificationof“onepointbeinglost.”FromthetimethatIbecameEuropeBureauChiefIwasenthusiasticaboutvolleyballandtabletennis.TheEuropeBureautookfirstplaceinvolleyballandtabletenniscompetitionsin2011and2012.However,afterIcameouttoEnglandtheysaythatfrom2013ontheyweren’tabletoattainfirstplace.EvennowafterI’vecometoSouthKoreaIplaytabletenniswithmycolleaguesintheNationalSecurityStrategyStudyCenter.Onceaweekweregularlysetasideanhourforplay.Ioncehadavainfantasy.IfIwasnotabletosuccessfullyfleeintoexileandhadreturnedtoNorthKoreaImighthaverestoredtheEuropeBureauonceagaintofirstplace.

    3[translator’snote]Kwangmyŏngsŏng,orStarofHope,isthenameofthesatellitesNorthKoreahaslaunchedsincethe1990s.KimIlSung,ofcourse,istheSunoftheRevolution.

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    FirstSecretarywithActualPowerMustWaitAllDayforKimJongIl’sPhoneCallIt’ssufferingthatallNorthKoreanofficesundergo.ItisconflictbetweenthePartycommitteeandtheadministrativeorganization.Youcanalsocallitcompetitionforpowerorstruggleforauthority.ItisimpossibletounderstandNorthKoreansocietywithoutunderstandingtheroleofthePartycommittee.ThereisaquestionthatIalwayshearsinceI’vecometoSouthKorea.“HowcananinhumanesystemlikeNorthKorea’slastforseventyyears?Isthereasecretkey?”“WhatisthedrivingforcethatallowedtheyoungKimJongUntosoeasilypurgehismother’suncleJangSongThaekwhohadbeenacorepowerfordecades?WhereonearthisNorthKorea’spowercenter?”InthesystemofNorthKoreathePartyisalwaysthecenterofpower.LeadingpersonsintheCentralParty’sOrganizationandGuidanceDepartmentcouldbepunishedasintheSimhwajoIncident4,butNorthKorea’spowercannotbemovedeithertotherightorleft.ManyNorthKoreaspecialistsinSouthKoreajudgethatinthelate1990swhenNorthKoreahadtheArduousMarch5andKimJongIlputforth“militaryfirstadministration”thecenterofpowershiftedfromthePartytothemilitary.AfterKimJongUntookovertheiranalysisisthatthepowershiftedbacktotheParty.Aportionofthemjudgewhoisnumber2andwhoisnumber3basedonlyontheorderofauthority.ThesearenothingbutemptyboastscomingfromnotunderstandingtheroleoftheCentralParty.ThefundamentalmissionoftheKoreanWorker’sPartyOrganizationandGuidanceDepartmentistoestablishtheSuryŏng’smonolithicsystemofleadership,andofthePropagandaandAgitationDepartmenttoestablishtheSuryŏng’smonolithicideology.TheOrganizationandGuidanceDepartmentisthehighestorganofpowerhavingtheauthoritytograspandcontrolallofsocietywithauthorityoverappointment,surveillance,andpunishmentofthehighestlevelofcadres.ThePartyorganizationalabilitiesoftheOrganizationandGuidanceDepartmentandthePropagandaandAgitationDepartmentformthetwoaxesthathavemovedNorth

    4[translator’snote]TheSimhwajoincidentwasalarge-scalepurgeofPartymembersthattookplacein1997asKimJongIlwasconsolidatinghispowerafterthedeathofhisfather.Some25,000peoplewerepunishedinthispurge.5[translator’snote]ArduousMarchistheNorthKoreanameforthefaminefrom1994to1998.

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    KoreansocietyfromthefirstdaysoftheformationoftheNorthKoreansystemuntiltoday.PowerrankingshavenomeaninginNorthKorea.EventhoughyoucansayPrimeMinisterPakPongju’sauthorityrankingisthirdorfourthhecanneitherappointnorremovecabinetmembers.NorthKoreanauthorityisdeterminedbywhoholdstherighttoassignpersonnel,handoutrewards,orpunishpeopleintherelevantorganizationsandtheirsub-organizations.TheCentralParty’sOrganizationDepartmentUndersecretaryresponsibleforcentralorganizationsiswhoholdstheserightsforcabinetmembers.IntheendwhatmovesNorthKoreaistheCentralParty’sOrganizationandGuidanceDepartment,andtheOrganizationandGuidanceDepartmentbycontrollingeachorganizations’partycommitteecontrolstheentirebodyoforganizations.Forexample,theNationalDefenseCommissioncannotleadtheOrganizationandGuidanceDepartment,buttheOrganizationandGuidanceDepartmentkeepsaneyeonandcontrolstheworkoftheNationalDefenseCommissionthroughthePeople’sArmyGeneralPoliticalBureau.InordertohelpyouunderstandNorthKoreansocietyletmeintroducesomeexamplesofpowerstrugglesbetweenForeignMinistryPartySecretaryandadministrativeworkers.IntheForeignMinistry,too,thecenterofauthorityliesinthePartycommittee.ThePartySecretaryofthePartycommitteeexercisesallauthority.However,inthemid1970’sthe‘firstundersecretary,firstvicehead’systemwasintroducedinorganizationsinwhichiswasnecessaryforKimJongIltoexercisedirectcontrol,andsoprovidedtheoccasiontomakechangesintheinternalorganizationoftheForeignMinistry.KimJongIl’spowerbecameinscribedintheadministrativeworkerwhowasdepartmenthead.KimJongIlintroducedthefirstundersecretary(ilbusang)systemtotheForeignMinistryandtheStateSecurityMinistry,andsointhePeople’sArmedForcesDepartmenteventhoughtherewasageneralstaffofficer(ch’ongch’ammojang)thedirectorofoperations(chakchŏnkukchang)cametocarryouttheviceministerfunctions.Belowtheminister(sang相)isundersecretary(pusang副相),andbelowthedepartmenthead(pujang部长)isdepartmentvice-head(pubujang副部长).Theauthorityrankoftheseislowerthanminister(sang)ordepartmenthead(pujang),butthefirstundersecretaryandfirstvice-headhavetheresponsibilitytodirectlycarryoutKimJongIl’sdirectives.NorthKorea’sauthorityisdeterminedbyhowoftenonetalkswithKimJongIlandhowmuchpowerhegives.UnlikemanyForeignMinisters(oemusang)theForeignMinistryUndersecretary(oemupusang)keepshisofficefromthestartofworkinthemorninguntilelevenPMquittingtimewhileheparticipatesinstateceremoniesorforeignactivityandallkindsofmeetingsuntiltheofficeemptiesout.

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    KimJongIlhadanimpatienttemperamentsoifhehadaqueryaboutareportorsomethinghewantedtopointouthewouldimpresstelytelephonetheFirstUndersecretary.TheFirstUndersecretarywouldhavetogothroughthedetailsofthereport.Sincehewasalwayswaitingforsomethinghedidn’thavedaysofrest.EvenifhewenttotherestroomasecretarywatchesthephoneconnectedtoKimJongIlinhisplace.InthiswayifonewasFirstUndersecretaryfortenyearsorsoonevirtuallybecameaninvalid.

    KangSŏkchu,AlmostSackedforReplacingthePartySecretaryTowardtheendofthe1970stheForeignMinistryFirstUndersecretarywasYiChongmok.AfterYiChongmokdiedKimCh’ungiltookoverfromthebeginningofthe1980s,andafterKimCh’ungilroseuptothethirdfloorsecretariatKangSŏkchu,whohadbeenCentralParty’sInternationalDepartmentBureauHeadforEurope,camedownasFirstUndersecretary.Intheearly1990sasNorthKorea-UStalkscameabouttheinternalpowerstructureoftheForeignMinistrybegantobereorganizedcenteringonKangSŏkchu.ThefirstthingthatKangSŏkchutouchedwascadreassignmentpower.SinceoriginallyaccordingtoregulationscadreassignmentwastheproperlythePartysecretary’sprerogativeanadministrativeworkercouldn’tinterferewithit.ThepowerstrugglebetweenthePartysecretaryandtheadministrativeworkerhadbegun.KangSŏkchuwhoattendedKimJongIl’ssecretpartyreported,“IfwewanttocarryouttheParty’sforeignpolicywellwehavetosendabroadworkersofability,yetthecapabilityoftoday’sambassadorsisinsufficient,thuscreatingmanydifficulties.”KimJongIlwhoseintentionswereobvioushadgiventherightofcadreassignmenttoKangSŏkchu.FromthistimeforwardintheForeignMinistrypowerbegantobeconcentratedinKangSŏkchuwhowasn’tPartySecretary.Naturallythevoiceoftheadministrativecadresalsogotbigger.ItwouldhavebeenabsurdinanyotherorganizationbutintheForeignMinistrythePartycommitteeobservedKangSŏkchu’sattituderatherthantheotherwayaround.WhenKangSŏkchumetwithKimJongIlitwasasituationinwhichifKanggaveanordertothePartySecretary,thesecretarymightgrousebuthewouldhoprighttoit.KangSŏkchu,inordertomaximizehispower,interferedinthecarryingoutoftheprocessofscheduledSaturdaylife.InNorthKoreaSaturdayisadayentirelyforthePartySecretary.ThePartySecretaryfromSaturdaymorningalsoleadstheForeignMinistryitineraryoflifesummary,notificationofpolicydirectives,andstudyguidance.ThehourfornotificationofKimJongIl’sdirectivescarriedoutfrom10:00AMisanespeciallyimportantactivity.Duringthishourall[Party]membersgatherinthelecturehallandmustlistentothePartySecretarieswords.

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    Howeverfromacertainmoment,justasthePartySecretarywasnotifyingpeopleofKimJongIl’sdirectives,KangSŏkchu’sslipsofpaperbegantoflyin.Theircontentswerethatthecooperationofsomebureauhead,somesectionhead,isneededandtheyshouldcometohisofficerightaway.InNorthKoreathe“utturances”ofKimIlSungandKimJongIlareliketheBible.ItwasasifsomeonehadbrokenintoareverentBiblereadingandrunoffwithoneortwobelievers.TheForeignMinistrymembersworried,“doingthatisreallygoingtohurtKangSŏkchu.”Theyweren’twrongandproblemsbrokeout.ThisproblemwasbroughttotheattentionoftheOrganizationandGuidanceDepartmentandtheyinvestigatedKangSŏkchu.ItwasasituationinwhichKangSŏkchuwouldbefiredifherespondedwrongly.KangSŏkchuwhohadextraordinarilystrongnervesrespondedwiththefollowing:“AllofmyprojectshavetheaimofassistingthegreatGeneralKimJongIl’sactivitiestowardtheoutsideworld.IfComradeKimJongIltelephonesmeaskingmeaboutaproblemandIdon’tknowtheanswerwhatamIsupposedtodo?Isummonawellinformedperson-in-chargeofthatproblem,askhim,andthenmustsendareporttoComradeKimJongIl.Ican’twasteasecondinreportingtoHisGeneralness.AreyoutellingmeIshouldmaketheGeneralwaituntilthePartysecretaryhasfinishedthetaskofnotificationofpolicydirectives?”TheinspectionteamthathadcomeouttothrottleKangSŏkchuwasinsteaddrivenintoacornerandwithdrewquietly.AfterthattheForeignMinistrywasKangSŏkchu’sworlduntil2008.TherewasnoreasonfortheCentralPartywhoseauthorityhadbeensnatchedawaytokeepquietaboutit.YiChegang,secretaryresponsibleforgeneralaffairsintheCentralParty’sOrganizationandGuidanceDepartment,regardedKangSŏkchuwithparticulardistaste.Towardtheendof2008YiChegangdispatchedhisconfidantAnT’aegwang,PartysecretaryresponsibleforPeonyHillDistrictinP’yŏngyangCity,totheForeignMinistrytellinghimtoretakethePartycommittee’spower.Infact,YiChegangwasright.IntheNorthKoreansystemtheadministrationcannotbeabovetheParty.FromthistimeonaninvisiblefightbeganbetweenKangSŏkchuandPartySecretaryAnT’aegwang.AnT’aegwangalsowantedtosuppressKangSŏkchubypiggybackingonYiChegangwhohadthetrustofKimJongIl.AnT’aegwangdecidedallcasesaccordingtothepointofviewofPartypolicy,andwasanorthodoxPartyworkerrarelyseeneveninNorthKorea.AfterKimJongIlrecoveredfrombeingfelledbyastrokeKangSŏkchucouldn’tfrequentlymeetKimJongIllikeheusedto.That’sbecauseKimJongIlreducedhissecret[drinking]partiestolongintervalsbecauseofhealthproblems.FromthistimeonasAnT’aekwang’scounterattackgotstartedKangSŏkchu’soverlordshipcollapsed.

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    AnT’aegwangsummonedthepumundangsecretariesofallbureausandthecellsecretariesanddugoutfromthemtheForeignMinister,Departmentheadandsoforthcadre’snastyfacts.OvertwentyyearssinceKangSŏkchulookedorthodoxtherewasnaturallyirregularity.AnT’aegwang,organizingeverykindofcriticalassemblyputpressureontheadministrativeworkers,andcatchingDepartmentHeadKimCh’anggyuandafewbureauheadsonirregularities,drovethemfromtheForeignMinistry.WithintheForeignMinistryamovementarosetoadapttoAnT’aegwang’snastiness,andI,too,couldnotgoagainsthistemper.AnT’aegwangpesteredustoreportonthemisdeedsofEuropeBureauHeadKimCh’un’guk,thebureautowhichIbelonged.Itisnormallynotdifficulttoreportminutelyaboutsuperiorsinthedepartmentinwhichonehadlivedtogetherlikeafamily.Makinganinspectionofeachbureau’s“PolicyPerformanceLedger”hequietlycutdownKangSŏkchusaying,“YoumustlivebelievingonlythewordsofGeneralKimJongIl.”Inordertoprovehisauthorityhesummonedtheundersecretaryandthenhadhimwaitforanhourorso.Whenoneundersecretarywhogotangrygotaway,AnT’aegwangcriticizedhimsaying,“YourattitudetowardthePartyisincorrect.”FinallyKangSŏkchuatthePartyDelegatesConferenceinSeptember2010wasappointedcabinetvicepremier,andretiredfromtheForeignMinistry.Fromtheoutsideitlookedlikehehadbeenpromoted,butactuallyhehadbeenbanishedfromthefrontlinesofforeignrelations.AnT’aegwang’styrannythatpushedKangSŏkchuoutgraduallydeepened.TheentireForeignMinistrygroveledbeforeAnT’aegwang.FirstViceHeadKimKyegwanwhoreplacedKangSŏkchuwasalsosomeonewhodidn’tgetalongwithAn.TheadministrativecadresoftheForeignMinistryhadtokowtowtothePartycommittee.Itcametothepointthatagedundersecretariesandbureauchiefsbowedtheirheadstogreetyoungthirty-somethingpartycommitteestaff.Howeverthissituationcouldn’tlastlong.IntheForeignMinistryaremanychildrenofCentralPartyCommitteecadres.ThroughthemAnT’aegwang’styrannygotreported,thetheOrganizationandGuidanceDepartmenttransferredAnT’aegwangasPartySecretarytotheShenyangNorthKoreanRepresentativeOffice.HŏTam’sson,HŏCh’ŏl,cameasthesubsequentPartysecretary.HŏCh’ŏl,whoisevenrelatedtoKimIlSung’sfamily,isveryseasoned,justlikehisfather.Hemaintainedpolitedecorumwithagedadministrativeworkers,andexercisedhispowerinvisiblywhileputtingFirstUndersecretaryKimKyegwaninfront.NorthKorea’spresentForeignMinisterisRiYonghowhowasselectedattheWorkersPartySeventhPartyCongressin2016.ThehealthofFirstUndersecretaryKimKyegwanisnotgood.PresentlyRiYonghoandHŏCh’ŏldon’tclash,andarerunningtheForeignMinistrymaintainingequilibrium.

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    KimJongIl’sApprovalsSuddenlyDon’tCome,FindoutIt’saStrokeIt’ssomethingIrememberfromtheendofAugust2008.KimJongIl’sapprovalssuddenlystopcomingdown.AtfirsteverybodythoughtitwasbecauseKimJongIlwasmakinganunpublicizedtriptoChina.Thisisbecausetherearepreviousexamplesofthis.TheForeignMinistryhastwomethodsofreportingdocumentstoKimJongIl.OneistheweeklysummarysentupeveryWednesdaythatisanabridgedformofweeklyreport.Thisisastrategicandindepthdocumentthatit’sfinetonotgetimpressteapproval.Thereporteveryday,althoughthedailyreportisabouttheproblemsraisedeachday,isadocumentrequiringKimJongIl’surgentagreement.TheweeklyreportanddailyreportandsenttoKimJongIl’sThirdFloorSecretariatbycomputer.KimJongIlreadsthedocumentandsigns,orwritesthedateanditbecomesa“personallyratifieddocument”[ch’inp’ilpijun].Toindicatethathejustlookedatitthedocumentwillcomedownwiththeexpressions“documentshowntohim”or“directiveoftheCentralCommittee.”Thehighestleveldocumentsarethoseonwhichiswritten“personallyratifieddocument”andKimJongIlhasnotedconcreteinstructionsonthedocument’sfirstpage.NobodyisabletoconfirmwhetherKimJongIldirectlyreadsthedocuments,justlooksatthetitle,ordoesn’tevenreadthetitle.DocumentsreporteddailyfromtheForeignMinistryalonearethousandsofpages.Othercabinetdepartmentsuploadasimilaramount.SinceKimJongIlisnotagoditwouldbephysicallyimpossibleforhimtolookatallofthese.ItseemsthatresponsiblepersonsintheSecretariatfirsttrytoreadthemajorityofdocumentsandonlyreportimportantonestoKimJongIl.OccasionallyKimJongIlwouldtelephoneKangSŏkchutoaskaboutthecontentsofdocumentsandthereweretimeshesentdowndirectives.IwouldguessthatimportantitemswouldhavetogetreportedtoKimJongIl.However,therewerecaseswhenitwasambiguouswhethertheytrulyreflectedKimJongIl’sintentions,ornot.EventhoughsomethingsuddenlyhappenedtoKimJongIltheNorthKoreansystemwassuchthathewouldpeacefullyreturnwithoutinformingtheThirdFloorSecretariat.KimJongIlwasfelledbyastrokeinAugust2008butonlyasmallnumberofpersonsintheThirdFloorSecretariatknew.WhenKimJongIl’sapprovalsstoppedcomingdownnotonlytheForeignMinistryotherofficesintheCentralAdministration,too,fellintoconfusion.ManytelephonequeriescameastowhetherthedocumentsuploadedbytheForeignMinistryhadbeenapprovedastheywere.Wecouldn’tworkwithoutreceivingapprovals,butsincewedidn’thavethemwecouldn’ttouchanythingfromthebeginning.TheForeignMinistrywentforwardwiththetaskrelatedtore-uploadingdocumentsrevising“wewouldliketo...”to“wearedoingorganizationbusinessbydoing...”

  • 12

    KimJongIldidn’tevenparticipateintheceremonyonSeptember9thfortheestablishmentoftheDPRK.NorthKoreansocietystartedtogetagitated.Strangestoriescirculated.ItwasaroundOctoberwhenKimJongIltookthestageagain.HeappearedwearingdarkglassesatthesoccergamebetweenKimIlSungConsolidatedUniversityandP’yŏngyangRailwayUniversity.Heseemedtobewearingdarkglassestocoverhiscloudedeyes.LookingatpicturesatthetimeKimJongIl’smovementseemedverylabored.

    AlongwithKimJongIl’sReturntheRyongch’ŏnBombingIncidentRisesAgainKimJongIlseemedtofeelkeenlythathishealthwasnotwherehewantedittobe,andthathedidn’thaveverymuchlongertolive.Aboutthistimeincidentsenoughtoharmhishealthcameuponeafteranother.OnewastheincidentwhentheChief-of-StaffSŏNamsikresponsibleforKimJongIl’strainNumber8andNumber9andRailwayMinistrycadreswereallatoncearrestedandaportionofthemexecuted.InNorthKoreapublicannouncement[ofexecutions]isvaryrare.Althoughtheentiretyoftheincidentwasnotclearlyexplained,arumorcirculatedthatSŏNamsikandsoforthhadtriedtoassassinateKimJongIlthroughtheRyongch’ŏnStationbombing,6andalsothataSouthKoreanspyorganizationsentupduringtheKoreanWarhadbeenuncovered.ItwasfouryearsaftertheRyongch’ŏnStationblastandsixtyyearssincetheKoreanWarbrokeoutsothesewereallpasttimes.Suchthingswereclearlyunsatisfactory.TheaftereffectsofthisincidentreachedevenintotheEuropeBureauoftheForeignMinistry.OnanafternooninOctoberofthesameyearthePartycommitteesuddenlysummonsedSŏCh’ŏlwhohadworkedintheEuropeBureau.AfterstudyingabroadinBeijingUniversity’sEnglishDepartmentfrom1979hehadworkedasanEnglishteacherintheInternationalRelationsUniversity.WhenIenteredthesameuniversityinthefollowingyearhewastheprofessorresponsibleforourclass’sEnglishinstruction.SinceIhadstudiedEnglishwithhim,Iconsideredhimanhonoredteacher.AfterthathisEnglishproficiencywasrecognizedbyRiSuyong,andin1992hecametoworkascounselresponsibleforUNagenciesinGeneva.AfterhereturnedhomeheheldpostsasForeignMinistryEuropeBureauOfficeHeadresponsibleforEnglandandNorthKorearepresentativetotheP’yŏngyangOfficeofSwitzerland’sDevelopmentCooperationMinistry.6[translator’snote]AlargetrainexplosionoccurredinRyongch’ŏnstationnearNorthKorea’sborderwithChinaonApril22,2004justhoursafterKimJongIl’strainhadpassedthroughreturningfromChina.Thelossoflifewasconsiderable.Officialexplanationspointedtoexplosivematerialonthetraincars,thoughrumorsofaKimJongIlassassinationattempthavealsocirculated.

  • 13

    SŏCh’ŏlwhohadbeencalleduptothePartycommitteedidnotcomedownagain,butwasloadedintoablackautomobileanddisappearedsomewhere.AfewhourspassedandthePartycommitteecalledforme.ItturnedoutSŏCh’ŏl’sfamilyhadbeenbanishedtothecountryside,soabouttenpersonsweretoaccompanymetohishouseandwrapuphisthings.Ipickedthehuskiestmembersofthebureau.SŏCh’ŏl’sresidencewasnexttoP’yŏngyangMedicalUniversityHospital.AlreadyStateSecurityForcesstoodinthehallwayspreventingentryandexit.Theentirefamilywassittingonchairsweeping.SŏCh’ŏl’smotherwhowasstillaliveandwiththem,said,“IsawthatIshouldn’tlivemuchlonger.”WhilewepackedtheirbaggagewefoundoutheisthenephewofRailwaysMinistryChief-of-StaffSŏNamsikwhohadbeenshotnotlongago.SŏCh’ŏl’sfatherduringtheKoreanWarhadbeenInvestigationDepartmentHeadofStateSecurityService,andhisyoungerbrotherofPeonyHillDistrictSecurityService.EvenforNorthKoreatheycouldbecalledarare“redtothecorefamily.”ItwasunbelievablethatsuchafamilycouldbecaughtupinanassassinationofKimJongIl.SŏCh’ŏl’sfamilywasexpelledtoSouthP’yŏnganProvince,SangwŏnCountybeforemidnight.Untilthattimewerandomlywrappeduptheirbaggage.WhileIwasdoingthisSŏCh’ŏl’swifequietlycameuptomeandsaid,“We’vegotquiteabitofforeigncurrencyinourhouse,sowhat’sthebestwaytohandleit?”ItseemedthatSŏCh’ŏlhadhereandthereamassedmoneyduringthealmostsixyearsthathehadlivedforeignrelationsinSwitzerland.UntilthismorningSŏCh’ŏlhadbeenacolleaguewhohadworkedwithme.IexchangedthemoneyintoNorthKoreancurrencyontheblackmarket.TheareatowhichSŏCh’ŏlhadbeenbanishedwasaremoteplacewhereAmericandollarswouldn’tbenecessary.Itwouldbe200li7tocomeouttothetrainstationthere.ItwasatimewhentheexchangerateforNorthKoreancurrencywasmorethan4000wŏntothedollar.Iexchangedseveralthousanddollars,wrappedtheminascarfturningitintoabundle.IhiditinthebaggagewhiletheStateSecurityOfficersweren’tpayingattention.AlthoughwewouldbepunishediftheStateSecurityOfficerssawus,wewereallofonemind,andaccomplisheditwithoutahitch.SŏCh’ŏl’sfamilyaccompaniedbyfivemembersoftheEuropeBureauleftforSangwŏnCountythatnight.WhilewesawSŏCh’ŏl’sweepingfamilyleaveP’yŏngyang,sincetheyneverthelesswentdowncarryingalotofmoney,wethoughttheywouldbesupportedforanumberofyears.However,lessthanayearlaterinNovember2009NorthKoreaeffectedacurrencyconversion.Whileseeingthemoneythathadcirculateduntil7[translator’snote]About67miles.

  • 14

    yesterdayturnedinaninstantintoworthlessscrapsofpaper,IthoughtofSŏCh’ŏl’sfamilywhowouldspendtimesufferinginOjiinSangwŏnCounty.Istillhaveaquestion.TheRyongch’ŏnblast,coulditreallyhavebeentheassassinationattemptthatKimJongIlthoughtitwas?OrwasitafakestrategyoftheStateSecurityDepartmenttopacifyKimJongIlwhowasalwaysstrickenbyparanoidfearofassassination?

    TheLastYearsofKimJongIl,BarelyAbletoApplaudAfterKimJongIlrecoveredfromhisstrokeRiSuyongbeingalsoabruptlysummonsedtoP’yŏngyangwasanextraordinarything.Idon’tknowpreciselywhenhereturnedfromSwitzerland.Itseemslate2008orearly2009.RiSuyonghadadvocatedrevivingtheNorthKoreaneconomybyincreasingthenumberofspecialeconomiczones.HehadbeenurgentlysummonsedbacktoP’yŏngyangtoorganizeaJointVentureCommitteeandhewasappointedcommitteechair.WhathadKimJongIl’sintentionbeen?Itcouldevenhavebeenthathekeenlyfelthedidn’thavemuchlongertolive,anditwasKimJongIl’slasttwitchtryingtodosomethingtorevivetheeconomy.WordwentaroundthatRiSuyongwasquiteclosetoChangSŏngt’aek.ThisisbecauseChangSŏngt’aek’sPartyadministrativedepartmentthathadastrangleholdontheNorthKoreaneconomywasresponsiblefortheJointVentureCommittee.AfterRiSuyongbecamechairmanoftheJointVentureCommitteeNorthKoreasettoworkpreparinganeweconomicplancalledExpandingSpecialEconomicZones[kyŏngjet’ŭkku].Especiallycominginto2012justafterKimJongIldiedtheybegantoexploreaconcreteplancenteringonRiSuyong.Itscontentswerethatthirteenspecialeconomiczonesbenewlysetup.ThecoreofspecialeconomiczoneswasintroducingintoNorthKorea’sinteriorcapitalisteconomicmethodslikethoseoftheKaesŏngIndustrialZone.8Hemightnowbefiredifhedidn’tgetpositivesupportfromKimJongUn.Itwaspubliclyannouncedtowardtheendof2013thatNorthKoreahadnewlyestablished13specialeconomiczonesinthecountryside,butinAprilthenextyearRiSuyongwasappointedForeignMinisteritendedupcomingtonothing.AtthistimetheJointVentureCommitteelostpowerandtreadthepathofdissolution.

    8[translator’snote]TheKaesŏngIndustrialZoneisanareainNorthKoreajustnorthofthedemilitarizedzone(DMZ)thatseparatesNorthandSouthKoreathatwasopenedin2002andclosed“temporarily”in2016.SouthKoreanbusinessesthatlocatedinthezoneusedSouthKoreamachinery,management,andelectricity,butNorthKoreanlaborthatwaspaidforindollars.

  • 15

    Topullallofthesestagestogether,itcanbesaidthatKimJongUnseemstohaveinheritedthelastattemptofKimJongIltorevivetheeconomy,butthenitwastorndownintheend.WhenKimJongUnfirsttookpowerhiswillforrenewalandrenovationwasobvious.KimJongUnalsowantedtotryrenewalandrenovationonothers,butforsomereasonseemstohavegivenitup.IsawKimJongIlinKŭngŏrionceinOctober2009.ItwaswhenChinesePremierWenJiabaovisitedNorthKorea.KimJongIlandWenJiaboatogetherwatchedthecolorfulNorthKoreansong-drama(kagŭk)ofChina’sclassicnovel“DreamoftheRedChamber.”KimJongIlwithagreatdealofeffortcouldjustbarelywalk.Itlookedlikehisleftsidewasparalyzedtotheextentthathecouldbarelyclap.However,evenatthatpointnobodythoughtKimJongIlwoulddiethatquickly.

    SufferingfromaStroke,JongChulandJongUnFirstIntroducedtoThoseAroundKimJongIlForalongtimeeveninNorthKoreaitwasthoughtthatKimJongIlhadnoothersonsthanKimJongNam.InfactitissaidthatevenwithinKimIlSung’shouseholdtheexistenceofKimJongUnwasnotknown.Howeverfromthetimeofhis2009NewYearsDayaddressastrangefeelingbegantopermeatetheair.WhenKimIlSunghadbeenaliveKimJongIldeliveredtheNewYearsSpeechdirectlyinperson.From1995afterKimIlSunghaddiedajointNewYeareditorialwaspublishedinthethreenewspapersRodongSinmun,ChosŏnInmin’gun,Ch’ŏngnyŏnChŏnwi9andthesewereKimJongIl’sactualNewYear’sAddress.Inthe‘JointEditorials’wereputtogetherwithassessmentoflastyearnew-yearpolicydirectionsintheareasofpolitics,economy,North-Southrelations,foreignrelations,andsoforth.The2009new-yearjointeditorialusedanewexpression,“TodaywestandonanimportanthistoricaleconomiclineincarryingouttheParty’srevolutionarytask.”Nobodyatthetimehadanyideawhatthisexpressionmeant.NorthKoreaofficialsnormallystudythejointeditorialuntilthemiddleofJanuary.FromtheendofJanuarytheygointopreparationforKimJongIl’sbirthday“BrightStarSeason”.Preparationsfor“BrightStarSeason”intheForeignMinistryinvolvedvolleyballandpingpongtournamentsbetweenbureausandartisticperformances.However,differentfromanyotheryear,eachorganizationmadeprogressonpopularizingthesong“Footsteps”[palgŏrŭm).ItwasrightafterthissonghadbeenshownonNorthKorea’sCentralBroadcastingTV.TheForeignMinistryorganizedachorusofmemberswithgoodvoicestosingthissong.Atfourintheafternoontheygatheredinthelecturehallandsang“Footsteps.”Partofthesonggoeslikethis.9[translator’snote]Workers’Daily,ChosŏnPeople’sArmy,YouthVanguardrespectively.

  • 16

    Ch’ŏkch’ŏkch’ŏkch’ŏkch’ŏkfootstepsFootstepsofourGeneralKimMakingflyFebruaryspiritForwardch’ŏkch’ŏkch’ŏkFootsteps,stompingoutvigorousfootstepsAllthepeopleofthecountryfollowingch’ŏkch’ŏkch’ŏk“Februaryspirit”obviouslymeantthespiritofKimJongIlwhowasbornonFebruary16th.“GeneralKim”spreadingthisspiritalsoclearlybecamehissuccessor.ButeventhoseofussingingthesonghadnoideawhoGeneralKimorComradeGeneralwas.“Footsteps”wasmanufacturedbyCNCtechnologyandwasspreadbymeansoffiles.CNCisatechnologythatappearedmeshedwiththecompositionofthesuccessorKimJongUn,endinguppracticallyasaslogan,thoughitwassomethingthatwasbynomeanscompletelynewinadvancedcountries.InNorthKoreatheypropagandize,“ThisfactoryisCNC-ized.”CNCmeansamanufacturingmachinecontrolledbynumbersbuiltintoacomputermicroprocessor,10andatthesametimeasKimJongUnappearedtheexpression“CNC-ize”cametobeinsertedinallkindsofphrases.LikeiftheyevenbuiltasmallfoodfactorytheywouldsaytheproductionworkloadhasbeenCNC-izedtomaximizeproductivity.

    TheSuccessorKimJongUnRisesundertheNameof“ComradeGeneral”OnApril15,2009onKimIlSung’sbirthdaytheyhelda“CanonSaluteEveningAssembly”(fireworksdisplay).It’sscalewasunprecedented.Itsstylewasextremelycolorfulandnew.Everybodyendlesslypraisedthem.Itseemedenoughtohavecostseveralmilliondollars.FromwithinthePartyitwaspropagatedas“thecanonsaluteeveningdirectlyorderedbyComradeGeneralhimself.”Itwasconsideredasolutefortheappearanceof“ComradeGeneral.”I,too,wascuriousastowho“GeneralKim”is.ItwascertainitwouldbeoneofKimJongIl’ssons,butnobodycouldworkoutastoryforthisproblem.IwhohadlongworkedintheEuropeBureauoftheForeignMinistryknewthatKimJongIl’schildrenwerestudyinginSwitzerland.ButIdidn’tknowhowmanychildrenhehad,andIhadneverheardtheirnameevenonce.UntilthattimetheonlysonofKimJongIlIhadseenwasKimJongNam.KimJongNamwhohadfinishedoverseasstudyinSwitzerlandandreturnedtoNorthKoreainearly1990intheeveningusedtorideinahigh-classMercedesBenzcartotheKoryŏHotel.Ievenrememberthelicensenumberof216-8888.KimJongNamstoppedhiscareatthefrontdoorwhereparkingwasprohibitedandstrodeintothehotel.Ofcoursethehotelcadrescameouttogreethimandcatertohim.10[translator’snote]CNCmeans“computernumericalcontrol”.

  • 17

    IalsotendedtogofrequentlytotheKoryŏHotel.That’sbecausemostoftheEuropeanrepresentativedelegationslodgedthere.SeveraltimesIcameacrossandsawinthedistanceKimJongNamwalkinghereandthereinthehotel.AtfirstIdidn’tevenknowthathewasKimJongNam.IthoughtmaybehewasaworkerintheThirdFloorSecretariatbuthelookedalittlebitstrange.OncefromthesideIwaslookinghimovercarefullywhenaseniorcolleaguefrommysamedepartmentstaredstraightatmeandjustsaid,“Let’sgo,”andatthesametimehetippedmeoff,“TheGeneral’sChild.”It’sbecauseoftheforgedpassportincidentthatKimJongNamlostfavorwithKimJongIl.ThedaybeforeSwedishPrimeMinisterPerssonarrivedinP’yŏngyang(May1,2001)KimJongNamwasdetectedtryingtoenterJapanwithaforgedpassport.NaturallythisgotwidelyreportedintheWesternpress.TheForeignMinistrywasreportingtoKimJongIlinalmostrealtimetheworldpressreportsonSwedishPrimeMinisterPersson’sP’yŏngyangvisit.PerssonwasthefirstWesternheadofstatetovisitNorthKorea.KimJongNam’ssecretentryintoJapanpouredcoldwaterontheatmosphereofthebanquet.WithintheForeignMinistryastrictordercamedowntoabsolutelynotdisclosenewsofKimJongNam’ssecretentryintoJapan.ItappearsobviousthatKimJongNamwasdecisivelypushedoutofthesuccessionpictureduetothisincident.Moreover,eveninNorthKoreamanypeoplealreadyknewthefactthatKimJongNam’sbirthmotherwasSŏngHyerim.InNorthKoreaSŏngHyerimwasanextremelyfamousactress.Shewaseventheeldestdaughter-in-lawofYiKiyŏng,thewriterwhohadcrossednorth.11In1974and1975whenIhadbeenstudyingataP’yŏngyangforeignlanguageacademyIhadafriendinthesamelevelcalledYiCh’adol.HewasthegrandsonofYiKiyŏng.YiCh’adol’sfather,YiChonghyŏk,wasatthattimeNorthKoreanrepresentativetoUNESCOinFrance.Rightnowheisvice-chairmanofChosŏnAsia-PacificPeaceCommitteeandDirectoroftheSouthKoreaProblemsStudyCenter.YiCh’adolattendedschoolfromYiKiyŏng’shouse,andYiOktolofthatfamilyisKimChongnam’shalfsister.12EachtimeIwentovertohangoutortostudyshewouldcutupfruitandtreatmeverykindly.HowevernotseeingherafteracertaintimeIaskedYiCh’adolaboutit,andhesaidshehadgoneintotheSouthKoreaRevolutionariesTrainingCenter.YiOktol’sfacewasoutstanding,soIhonestlybelievedwhathesaid.In1997IhadbeenworkinginDenmarkwhenthenewhadbeenreportedthatYiHanyŏnghadbeenassassinated,anditwasonlyatthattimeIcametoknowthefact

    11[translator’snote]YiKiyŏngwasawell-knownproletariannovelistofthe1930swhowentnorthfromSeoultohisnativeP’yŏngyangafter1945.HismostfamousnovelwasT’oji[Land].12[translator’snote]i.e.hermotherisSŏngHyerim,butherfatherwasYiKiyŏng’sson.

  • 18

    thatSŏngHyerimwasKimJongIl’sgirl.13Icannotpossiblyexpresswhatashockthattimewas.IbecameawarethatevenYiOktol’ssituationwasnotlonglasting.ShecouldnolongerreturntoNorthKorea,soshefollowedherdiplomathusbandashegotmovedtoFinland,Italy,Austria,andSwitzerland.WhenIputallthesecluestogetherI,too,thoughtKimJongNamwouldnotbesuccessor.WhatremainedwaseitherKimJongCholorKimJongUnbutitwashardtojudgewhichoneitwouldbe.ThoseassociatesintroducedtothetwobrothersbyKimJongIlknewthatKimJongCholwastheolderofthetwo.ForthatreasonmanypeoplethoughtKimJongCholwouldbedesignatedsuccessor.ThesuccessionoperationforKimJongIl’sheirwascarriedoutsecretlylikethis.Butfromthetimeafterthe“GeneralKim”songofpraise“Footsteps”cameoutitwasrushingaheadafullgallop.Fromaboutthesecondhalfof2009fromthepartycommitteeandsoforttheexpressions‘ComradeGeneral,’‘OurPartyisfacingaperiodofhistoricaltransition,’andsoforthbegantoemerge.Anxietyaboutthetrueformof‘GeneralKim’or‘ComradeGeneral’graduallymounted.AndthenthenameKimJongUnstealthilyappeared.Postersonwhichwerewrittenthelyricsof“Footsteps,”thesongpraisingKimJongUn,wereputupalloverKoreawiththephrase,“YoungComradeGeneralKimJongUnwhocontinuesthePaektubloodline,theMan’gyŏngdaebloodline,thegloryofournationblessedwithageneral’suniform,afieldmarshal’suniform.”

    AfterMakingHisEntranceKimJungUnAttemptstoSolidifySuccessionthroughaCurrencyConversionInNovember2009acompletelyunexpectedincidentburstoutinNorthKorea.Itwasacurrencyconversion.IthappenedthreeorfourmonthsafterKimJongUn’snamewasmadepublictotheNorthKoreanpeople.NorthKoreaupuntil2012,the100thanniversaryofKimIlSung’sbirth,hadpushedforwardonthreetasksinordertoconstructaStrongandProsperousGreatCountry(kangsŏngtaeguk).Theywerearevisedconstitution,nucleararms,andeconomicconstruction.AmongthesetherevisedconstitutionwascompletedinApril2009,andnucleararmamenthadtakenabigstepforwardwiththesuccessofthesecondnucleartestinMay2009.Buttheycouldn’treachtheexpectationofachievingepochalresultsineconomicconstruction.Andsowhattheycarriedoutwasacurrencyconversion.13[translator’snote]YiHanyŏng,originalnameYiIllam,wasthesonofSŏngHyerim’soldersister.HewenttouniversityinMoscowandeventuallydefectedtoSouthKoreain1982.Thisfactwasconcealedandhehadplasticsurgerytochangehisappearance.In1996hepublishedinSouthKoreaatell-allbook,TaedongRiverRoyalFamily,andwasshotnearhisresidencebyunknownassailantsin1997.Hiskillerswereneverfound,butitisassumedtheywereNorthKoreanagents.

  • 19

    EventhoughNorthKorearesidentsgetmoneytheydon’tputitinthebank.That’sbecausetheycan’tfreelywithdrawit.Residentsstoreathomethemoneytheyearnatthemarketplaces(changmadang).Theauthoritieshavetoconstantlyprintmoneytopaythewagesofwhataddsuptomillionsofsoldiers,civilservants,andworkersinstate-runenterprises.It’sastructureinwhichinflationgetsfrightfullyaggravated.Asanexample,mymonthlywageasabureauheadintheForeignMinistrywas2,900wŏn,butthepriceofakilogramofricetradeinthemarketwasmorethan3,000wŏn.Icouldn’tevenbuyakilogramofriceinthemarketwithmymonthlywage.Neverthelesslifewaspossiblebecauseofthestaterations.TothosebelongingtotheForeignMinistry,etc.centralstateorganstheysuppliedakilogramofriceattheexistingstatepriceof40wŏnperkilogram.SonobodyfromtheForeignMinistrywasafoolandtookhissalaryjustasitwas.Ricesupplydaybecameessentiallywagedayaswell.InthecaseoftheForeignMinistryeachbureau’sfemaleemployeestakeallthebureaumember’swages,andonricedistributiondaysubtractthepricesofthedistributedrice,andalsosetasidetheremainder.InthemoneyconversionwhatKimJongIlaimedatwastoblockhyperinflation,andpulloutthemoneyresidentshadstoredupintheirhouses.Healsowantedtoblocktheexpansionofcapitalismthroughmarkets.Theconcreteactionofthemoneyconversionwastoconvert100wŏnoftheoldmoneyfor1wŏnofthenewmoney.Buttheproblemwasthattherewasalimitontheamountthatcouldbeconverted.Caughtonthelimitation,oldmoneythatcouldn’tbeconvertedintonewmoneyendedupbecomingtoiletpaper.Accordingtomyrecollectiononthedaythemoneyconversionwasannounced,theyconvertedforeachhouseholdonly100,000wŏnoftheoldmoneyintothenewmoney.Afewdaysafterthatitgotadjustedto100,000wŏnwithaseparateadditional50,000wŏnforeachfamilymember.Evensoitwasabsurdlyinadequate.Thedamagewasespeciallyextremeformarketpeople.Becausetheprivilegedstratumorthemoneylords(bigmerchants)alreadytradedwithorhadamassedtheirwealthindollars,Euro,oryuan,etc.theywerelessdamaged.

    DuetoResidents’ResistancetheMoneyConversionFailed,PartyEconomicSecretaryExecutedSweepingresistancegrewup.Shopsclosedtheirdoorsandgoodsdisappearedfrommarkets.KimMan’gil,SecretaryresponsibleforP’yŏngyang,apologizedinfrontofthepeopleandappealedforallcommercialactivitytostartupagain,butitwasofnouse.KimJongIlwasgreatlysurprisedbypeople’sopposition.Hehadnotexpectedtoseepeoplewhohadgroveledtotheleaders’beatbeabletoengageinmassresistance.Onceyouallowpeoplethepleasureofearningmoneythere’snogoingback.Ifyoutrytosnatchawaythatpleasurethey’llresistdeterminedly.Whatismoreit’snota

  • 20

    simplepleasure,butaquestionuponwhichsurvivaldepends.Whentheauthoritiesproposedtotakeawaytheirrighttolive,theNorthKoreanpeoplewhohadonewayoranotherbeenenduringpoliticalcontrolriskedtheirlivestoresist.KimJongIldidn’tunderstandthislogic.AtthetimeofthemoneyconversiontherewaspassiveresistanceevenintheForeignMinistry.Theformervalueofpapermoneythathadbeenontheorderof3000wŏntothedollarbecame100tothedollarforawhileatfirstasthemoneyconversionwasbeingimplemented.Inthemarketsthericethathadtradedatmarkof3000wŏnakilogramfelltothemarginof50wŏn.Theproblemwasthatthepriceatwhichthecentralorgansdistributedricetocivilservantsinthecentralorganizationswasunchangedat40wŏn.Beforetheconversionyoucouldbuyriceatyourplaceofworkfor40wŏnandturnaroundandsellitinthemarketfor3000wŏn.InactualitythemembersoftheForeignMinistrywhoselivingstandardwasbetterthanthatofordinarypeopleusedtoselltheirdistributedriceinmarkets,orexchangeitforbetterqualityregularriceatafixedratio.Butafterthemoneyconversionwithdistributedriceat40wŏnandmarketriceat50wŏnnobodywantedtobuydistributedrice.Mostofthericedistributedtocentralorganizationswasricethathadbeenstoredforanumberofyearsatmilitarywarehouses.Thepoorqualityricethatwascoveredwithmoldwascalled“spoiledrice.”NaturallythemembersoftheForeignMinistrydidnotwanttoreceivedistributionsof“spoiledrice.”ItbecamedifficultfortheFinancialAccountingBureauthathadgivenoutthedistributions.ThePartycommitteesummonedme,thePumundangSecretary,andwarned,“IftheEuropeBureaumembersdon’taccepttheirdistributionitwillbeconsideredafrontalchallengetoGeneralKimJongIl’spolicyofmoneyconversion,andyoucouldbepunishedforsectarianactivity”.InNorthKoreaifyoubehaviorismistakeninthiskindoftransitionperiodyoucouldgetyourheadcutoff.AllofthemembersoftheEuropeBureaudebatedandintheendeddecidedtoacceptthespoiledrice.However,duetothestrenuousoppositionofthepeoplethemoneyconversionrevertedtoapitifulfailureamonthafteritwascarriedout.ItwasanunprecedentedthingforthecurtaintofalllikethisonPartypolicyinNorthKoreathatisatotallycontrolledsociety.Inordertoclamthepeople’sdissatisfactionKimJongIlshiftedalltheblameontoPartyEconomicSecretaryPakNam’giandexecutedhim.KimJongUnwasbehindthemoneyconversion,Ithink.Themoneyconversionwouldsimplybeafailedoperationtosolidifythepictureofhissuccession.AfterthisuproarNorthKoreacouldnolongerforcethepeopleoneconomicquestions.KimJongUnseemstohavereceivedalessonthatnomatterhowsubmissivetheNorthKoreanpeopleare,ifyoumesswiththeirrighttoliveyouradministrationevencanbeshaken.

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    EstablishmentofNorthKoreanEmbassyinBelgiumFlewOuttheWindowDuetotheShellingofYŏnp’yŏngIslandOnSeptember27,2010KimJongUnreceivedthetitleofGeneralintheKoreanPeoples’Army,andthefollowingdayhewaselectedatthePartyDelegates’ConferenceaPartyCentralCommitteememberandVice-chairofthePartyCentralCommittee.KimJongUnhadbeenpubliclyconfirmedassuccessor.ThefirsttimeNorthKoreanresidentsseeKimJongUn’sfaceisSeptember28th.Thereactionofthemajoritywas,“It’slikeseeingthefigureofSuryŏngKimIlSung.”IncontrasttothelivelyfigureofKimJongUnthefigureofKimJongIlsittingonthechairman’splatformlackedvigortotheextentthathecouldbarelyevenclap.RightaroundthetimethatKimJongUn’ssuccessionwasconfirmedtheincidentsofblowingupandsinkingoftheCh’ŏnam(March2010)andtheshellingofYŏnp’yŏngIslandhappened(November2010).14ThesewerethemostshockingincidentsinNorth-Southrelationsinthepasttenyears.SinceI’vecometoSouthKoreamanyhaveaskedmeifitistruethatNorthKoreablewuptheCh’ŏnam.AsonewhohasonlyworkedattheForeignMinistryIhavenowayofknowingthetruth,butIrememberthatthesestoriescirculatedwithinNorthKorea.“Chosŏn’snavalstrengthisincomparablyweakerthanthatofSouthKorea,butseeingthebreakupoftheCh’ŏnamtheyknowtheyhavetopayattentiontoournavy.”InthismannerNorthKoreanshavecometohaveself-confidence.OnNovember23,2010,thedayoftheshellingofYŏnp’yŏngIslandmymemoriesremainfresh.OnthatdaythedelegationledbytheChairoftheEuropeanUnion,Belgium’sForeignMinistryAsia-PacificBureauHeadarrivedinP’yŏngyang.NorthKoreanandtheEuropeanUnionhadbeenmovingforwardonannualforeignministrybureau-headlevelpoliticaltalks.IntheeveningattheinvitationofViceMinisterKungSŏgungwehadawelcomingbanquetasP’yŏngyang’sKobongMountainentertainmentcenterthatbelongstotheForeignMinistry.AroundthattimethewholeworldwasseethingovertheshellingofYŏnp’yŏngIsland,butwithintheForeignMinistrytheonlyoneswhoknewthisfactwereBureau5(America

    14[translator’snote]TheCh’ŏnamwasaSouthKoreannavalvesselthatwashitbyapresumedNorthKoreantorpedoandwentdownkilling46sailorsonMarch25,2010.Yŏnp’yŏngIslandisasmallSouthKoreanislandintheYellowSeajustsouthofNorthKorea’sHwanghaeProvince.NorthandSouthKoreanforcesexchangedartilleryfirethereonNovember23,2010.FourSouthKoreanciviliansontheislandwerekilledand19injured.

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    Bureau)whowereoverseeingCNN.Thatday’sbanquetproceededinaveryharmoniousatmosphere.Thenextdayat10:00AMpublictalkswereconvenedinthePeople’sCulturalPalace.WhentheNorthKoreandelegateheadKimCh’un’gukfirstexchangedwelcomegreetingsthedelegatefromtheEuropeanUnion’ssidestoodupwithatenseexpressiononhisface.Hesaidthefollowingandthenwalkedoutwiththedelegation.“YesterdayNorthKoreashelledSouthKorea’sterritoryofYŏnp’yŏngIsland.AsanexpressionofoppositiontoNorthKorea’sattacktheEuropeanUnionhasdecidedtoterminatepoliticaltalkswithNorthKorea.Therefore,thisdelegationwillleaveP’yŏngyangbythequickestmeanspossible.Thisisadirectivefromourheadoffice.Wearesorry.”NorthKoreahadplacedbigexpectationsonthesetalks.ThereasonwasthattheheadofthedelegationwasBelgium’sForeignMinistryAsia-PacificBureauHead,andtherewasthequestionofanimpresstelypendingproposaltoestablishaNorthKoreanembassyinBelgium.EvenjustatthebanquetthenightbeforetheBelgiansidehadhinted,“DependingontheresultsofthepublictalkstherecouldbeprogressonthequestionofestablishingaNorthKoreanembassyinBrussels.”AlthoughIhadgonetotheconferencecenterwithhighexpectationsitwastoobadthetalksbrokedown.AfewdayslaterarumorwasfloatingupregardingtheshellingofYŏnp’yŏngIsland.ThestorygoesthataftertheNorthKoreaarmyartillerybatteryonDogheadinKangnyŏngCountyofHwanghaeProvinceshelledYŏnp’yŏngIsland,theyhadforeknowledgeoftheSouthKoreancounterattack,andclearingtheareawereundamaged.

    TheGermanyEmbassyinNorthKoreaIssuesaCriticalDeclarationThewholeworldcriticizedNorthKoreaovertheYŏnp’yŏngIslandshelling.TheEuropeanUnionalsopublishedadeclarationofopposition.TheGermanEmbassyinP’yŏngyangtranslatedthedeclarationintoourlanguageandpostedonasignboardinfrontoftheembassy.TheGermanEmbassyisintheforeigndelegatevillageinP’yŏngyangCity’sTaedongRiverDistrict.TheStateSecurityDepartmentpostedsentriesandcontrolledaccesssothatordinarypeoplecouldn’tentertheforeigndelegationvillage.TheForeignMinistrywassentwordabouttheissuanceofadeclarationofoppositionfromtheGeneralForeignDelegationTaskBureauthatisresponsibleforworkrelatedtoembassies,andtheydemandedaresponse.ThiswasthefirsttimeinhistorythatapermanentembassyhadpubliclypostedapieceofpropagandadirectlycriticizingNorthKorea.Ifweacceptedthisoneortwootherembassiesalso

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    mightbeabletopostpropagandathatcriticizesNorthKoreaonthebulletinboardinfrontoftheirembassy.TheForeignMinistrywascaughtinanemergency.WereportedthatwewouldliketoimpresstelytakemeasurestoKimJongIl,anddesignatedthepersonresponsible.RepresentingtheForeignMinistryI,whohadbeenputinchargeofthisdutysummonsedimpresstelytheGermanambassador.TheGermanambassadorwasonanoverseastrip,andatemporarychargéd’affairesentered.IdemandedthattheytakedownatoncetheEuropeanUnion’soppositionstatement.Hedefendedhimselflikethis.TheGermanEmbassypostingoftheEuropeanUnion’sdeclarationofoppositionontheembassybulletinboardisalegitimateactivityinformingtheNorthKoreanpeopleofourgovernment’spolicyposition.IftheForeignMinistrywantscontroltotheextentofaforeignembassy’sexhibitionmaterials,itisclearinterferenceinourinternalaffairs.TheNorthKoreanembassyinBerlinpostsnoticescriticizingGermany’sallytheUnitedStates,buttheGermangovernmenthasneveronceinterfered.Wedeclinetoremoveourdeclaration.AllconversationstakingplaceintheForeignMinistryinterviewroomarewiretapped.Iftheinterviewdoesn’tgowelltheStateSecurityDepartmentevenreportstheinterviewcontentsdirectlytoKimJongIl.Morethanoneortwohavebeencriticizedformistakenlyconductinginterviews.ANorthKoreanForeignServiceofficialmustabsolutelynotbepushedaroundbytheotherparty.Iimpresstelycounterattacked.“Thepurposeofapermanentembassyistodevelopafriendlyrelationshipwiththecountryinwhichitislocated.Iregardtheembassy’sdirectlycriticizingthecountryinwhichitislocatedtobeintendedtobreaktherelationshipbetweenthetwocountries.EventhoughtheChosŏnEmbassyinBerlinhasissuedcontentscriticizingtheUnitedStateswehaveneveroncecriticizedGermanyitself.TheinstigatorofthisshellingofYŏnp’yŏngIslandisSouthKorea.BecausetheSouthKoreanmilitarydidartillerypracticeinourdirectionfirst,wemerelyshotbackinresponse.We’retheinjuredparty.ForwhatreasonhasGermanymadetheinjuredpartytheinstigatorofeverything?Howyoudonethisbecauseyoudon’tknowthetruthoftheincident?Orifnot,isitthatyouknowbutdothistotakethesideofSouthKoreaandtheUnitedStates?Thisreallyisquestionable.RightnowthestatusoftheKoreanPeninsulahasrunintoanexplosivesituationduetotheYŏnp’yŏngshelling.InthisstateofaffairsGermany,whichhastoworktowardthepeaceandsecurityoftheKoreanPeninsula,cannotjusttakethewordofoneside,andwecannotacceptpropagandamaterialscriticizingusbeingpostedontheembassybulletinboard.Ifyoudon’ttakeactionIdon’tknowwhatourenragedpeoplewilldotothebulletinboard.Ifdespiteourwarningyoudon’ttakeanyactionIdon’tknowwhatmighthappeninthefuture.Germanywillbeartheresponsibility.”

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    Thetemporarychargéd’affairesfacedturnedredatmythreat.“Iwillreporttomycountryandwewilltakeaction,”hesaid.InsideIquietlyworried.IftheGermanembassyresistsuntiltheend,NorthKoreahadtotakephysicalaction.InthatcaseaproblemwouldariseintheNorthKoreanembassyinBerlin.Fortunately,theGermanEmbassytookthestatementofoppositiondownthenextday,andIreceivedcongratulationsfrommysuperiorsattheForeignMinistry.

    ParticipateintheLondonSpecialOlympicsInOrdertoImproveRelationswithEnglandFromearly2011theLondonembassyinP’yŏngyanghadbeenpersistentlytryingtogetNorthKoreaincludedintheParalymics(handicappedOlympics)thatwouldbeheldthenextyearinLondonrighthavethesummerOlympics.Theysaid,“IfNorthKoreaparticipatesintheLondonParalympicsitwouldbeagreathelpinimprovingNorthKorea’shumanrightsimage,andNorthKorean-Englishrelationswouldalsobemoredeveloped.”Andthentheysaidallsortsofnicesoundingwordslike,“IftheydecideonNorthKoreanparticipation,thenstraightawayfromthisyearaidtoNorthKoreanmightincrease.”Itwasatimewhenyoucouldn’tevendreamofNorthKoreanhandicappedpersonsgoingabroadasadelegation,nottomentionenteringintotheParalympics.UntilthistimetheNorthKoreanWorkersPartypublicizedthathandicappedpeople’sphysicaleducationiswrongbasedonKimIlSung’steachingthat“handicappedperson’scompetitionisgamblingtosatisfyrichpeople’sinterestinabnormality.”Untilthe1970sNorthKoreasaidapriorithatfamilieswithhandicappedpersonscouldnotliveinapartmentsalongP’yŏngyang’scentralcitystreets.Therewerealsocasesinwhichhandicappedperson’sfamilieswererecommendedtothecountryside.Unlesstheirparentsareanti-Japaneserevolutionaryfightersorhighrankcadreshandicappedpersonsalsocannotattenduniversity.ItisknownthatatthelevelofthesonofKimIlSung’spartisancomrades,thecoupleRyuKyŏngsuandHwangSunhoe,ortheIndependenceArmyFighterRyangSebong’sgrandsontheywenttoKimIlSungConsolidatedUniversity.WhenIwaslittleIoncesawanexcellentchessplayerwhowasadisabledstudentattheUniversityoftheArtsataperformanceinP’yŏngyangGrandTheater,andhe,too,wasthesonofacadrefamily.Intheearly1980sIlivedforanumberofyearsinanapartmentinP’yŏngyangCity,PeonyHillDistrict,SŏngbukPrecint,andnearbyweretwohandicappedchildren.Onelimpedslightlyonhisleftleg.HisfatherwasaSecurityOfficer,butevensoforfearthathemightberecommendedforthecountrysidehesentthechildwhenitwasyoungtohisaunt’shouseinHamhŭng.EvenhisfamilyregisterwasmovedtoHamhŭngwhilehelivedthere,andheonlycamebackuptoP’yŏngyangwhenhewasanadult.Theotherchildwasapatientofcongenitalinfantileparalysis.Even

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    thoughgoingoutsidewasvirtuallyimpossiblebecausetheylivedbesideafirstlineroadhehadtomovewithhisfamilytoanotherplace.A‘firstlineroad’[ilsŏntoro]meansaroadthatKimIlSungorKimJongIltravelonfrequently.Handicappedpersonsorpeoplewithbadsŏngbun15cannotlivealongfirstlineroads.Thesedaysthispolicyhasbeengreatlyrelaxedandtheydon’tsendthefamiliesofthehandicappedtocountrysideanymore.Andso,thinkingthatNorthKorea’spolicyonphysicaleducationandactivityforhandicappedpersonsmustchange,andusingmyindividualexperiencewhenIwasyoungaswell,IacceptedenthusiasticallytheEnglishembassy’sproposalrequestingNorthKoreasendahandicappedathleticteamtoparticipate.InNorthKoreanstyleIpersistentlysaidlet’strythisonce.TheEnglishsidesentaletterrequestingparticipationtotheNorthKoreanHandicappedAssociationandrequestedthatthedocumentsbemadeswiftly.TosendadelegationtheHandicappedAssociationmustformulateaproposalthatreceivesKimJongIl’sfinalapprovalafterpassingthroughtheagreementoftheAthleticsMinistryOlympicCommittee,theForeignMinistryInternationalOrganizationBureau,andthePartyCentralCommittee’sScientificEducationDepartment.However,theHandicappedAssociationhesitatedtoformulateaproposal.Thereasonwasthatdangerousresponsibilityweighedheavilyonthembecauseitwouldhavetobeaproposalthatrequestsafundamentalchangeinhandicappedpolicy.TheForeignMinistry’sInternationalOrganizationBureauhadthisopinion.“WesterncountrieshaveraisedChosŏn’shandicappedquestionaspartofahumanrightsoffensiveagainstthenorth.IfChosŏnparticipatesintheLondonParalympicstheproblemthatwehaven’tgonetotheOlympicsupuntilnowmightdrawmoreattention.Also,handicappedpersonswithnoexperiencedealingwiththeoutsidemightmakemistakesthefirsttimethegoabroad.Ifthingsgowrong,there’sabigdangerChosŏn’sdomesticrealitywillbecomeknown.Ratherwethinkitisbettertonotsendthem.”ThePartyCentralCommittee’sScienceandEducationDepartmentalsocametotheconclusionthattosendadelegationofhandicappedpersonstotheParalympicsiscontrarytoPartypolicy.OnlythePhysicalEducationMinistryOlympicCommitteereasonedtotheScienceandEducationDepartmentcadres,“Handicappedperson’sathleticcompetitionisnotgamblingfortheamusementofthewealthy,butratherifwedon’tgototheParalympicsitwilltarnishourrepublic’simage,”buttheydidn’tbuythatargument.Itwasn’taproblemthatcouldbesolvedbynormalmeans.ProdskeptarrivingfromtheEnglishEmbassy.Atmywit’sendIdecidedtocompletelychangethestarting15[translator’snote]Sŏngbunisone’ssocialclassificationbasedonoccupationorthepoliticalandclassbackgroundofone’sfamily.

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    pointofthisproblem.Iformulatedaplanfromadifferentanglethatit’snotaquestionofparticipationintheParalympics,butaquestionofdevelopingNorthKorean-Englishpoliticalrelations.Thedocument’stitledidn’tsay,“PolicyOpinionReportRegardingtheQuestionofOurDelegation’sParticipationintheLondonParalymics,”butIreviseditto“PolicyOpinionReportRegardingtheProblemoftheNorthKoreanEnglishEmbassy’sRecommendation.”“TheEnglishGovernmentismakingeveryefforttomakethe2012LondonOlympicssuccessful.TheyplacegreatsignificanceonChosŏnparticipatingintheParalympics,andhavemadecontinuousrequestsforparticipationofourrepublic’sdelegation.England,whilemaintainingapolicyofparticipatingincriticism,hasbeenopposedtoamilitarysolutiontoChosŏn’snuclearquestion.Ifweaccedetotheirrequestthistimetheywillbeinourdebt,andafterwardsthiswillbecomesupportforthedevelopmentofrelationswithEngland.”HavingformulatedthedocumentsthiswaythatchangedthemintoacaseabouttheproblemofbilateralrelationswithEnglandtherewasnoneedtoseektheagreementoftheInternationalOrganizationsBureauorthePartyCentralCommittee’sScienceandEducationDepartment.LookingatadraftofthedocumentsForeignMinistrycadreswereawarethatIhadused“tactics”todispatchaParalympicsathleticteam.ButthecadresalsoacknowledgedthenecessityforcadrestoalsoparticipateintheNorthKoreandelegation,sotherewasnobodywhoopposedit.WereportedittoKimJongIlandonthatdaythesigningwasfinished.Therewasnoreasontoopposeit.Aproblemthatcouldbesolvedassimplyasthisdidn’tevengetintroducedfordecadesbecauseofworriesthatperhapssomebodywouldhavefoundfaultandheadswouldhaverolled.

    AQuicklyFormedOne-PersonTeamParticipates,WarmReceptionintheEndThequestionofparticipationintheLondonhandicappedOlympicswassettled,butadifficultywasthattherewerenoathleteswhocouldparticipate.ApartfromtheForeignMinistry,theHandicappedAssociation,andhighlevelPartycadres,therewerenoorganizationsthatknewoftheparticipationofNorthKorea’sathleticteam.AtfirstItriestofindachildfromamongthemembersoftheForeignMinistry.IthoughtitwouldworkoutifwesentRimChusŏng,secondsonofRimYŏngch’ŏlwhohadworkedascounselinBeijing,toswimminglessons.RimYŏngch’ŏlismybestfriend.16Youthfuloverseasstudy,InternationalRelationsUniversity,BeijingForeignLanguagesUniversitywealldidtogether.

    16[translator’snote]ThetextusestheNorthKoreanexpression“calfcompanion”(friendsincechildhoodwithanexplanationinparenthesesconsistingofaSino-Koreantermmeaning“oldfriendwithwhomIusedtoridebamboohorses”

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    RimChusŏngwhohadbeeninBeijingwithhisfatherpracticedeverydayinaneighborhoodswimmingpool.RimChusŏng,NorthKorea’sfirstParalympicathleteisahandicappedpersonmissionhisleftarmandleg.Here,too,thereisatearfulstory.WhenRimChusŏngwassixyearsRimYŏngch’ŏlwasdispatchedtotheconsulateinChina’scityofShenyang.Followingtheregulationthatonecannotgoabroadwithtwochildren,heleftwithonlyhiseldestson.HeentrustedRimChusŏngtohismother-in-law.RimChusŏngwhohadbeenplayingatanapartmentconstructionsitenexttotheirresidencewithhitbyacraneandhisarmandlegwerecutoff.RimYŏngch’ŏl’smother-in-lawdidn’tknowwhattodososhegavethenewsoftheaccidenttomefirst.MywifeandIurgentlyrushedtoKimHyŏngjikMilitaryMedicalSchoolHospitalwhereRimChusŏnghadbeenadmitted.IcanstillseevividlybeforemyeyesthefigureoflittleRimChusŏnglyingsedatedinbedwithhisarmandlegcutoff.MywifeandIcriedtogetherbythesideofthebed.Itwasallthemoresad,Ithought,becauseifhehadgoneabroadwithhisparents,hewouldneverhavesufferedthisterribleaccident.RimYŏngch’ŏlandhiswifearrivedinP’yŏngyangbytrainthenextday.Icouldn’tpossiblycalculatehowdeepwasthepainandagonyofRimYŏngch’ŏl,hiswife,andhismother-in-law.TheLondonParalympicswereheldfromtheendofAugustuntilearlySeptemberin2012.RimChusŏngwastheonlyNorthKoreaathleteparticipating.Accompanyingpersonnelweretwelvepeople.MostofthemwerecompanycadreswhohadfinanciallysupportedtheHandicappedAssociation.TheEnglishgovernment’swelcomeoftheNorthKoreanathleticteamwastremendous.TheEnglishUnder-SecretaryofStateconvenedameetingintheForeignOfficeforjusttheNorthKoreanathleticteam.ThiswasthefirsttimethishadhappenedinthehistoryofNorthKorean-Englishforeignrelations.Englandpreviouslyhadnotgrantedameetingwithsomeoneofthatrankevenwhenthe[NorthKorean]ForeignMinistryUndersecretaryvisited.ThissignvividlyshowshowhungryEnglandwasforNorthKoreanparticipation.OnthedayoftheswimmingcompetitionRimChusŏngwascomingupwithdifficultytheverylastamongtheathletes.Hehadhastilypreparedandhecouldn’tsuddenlyswimwell.Atthispointthehallannouncer’svoicerangoutthroughthestadium.“Ladiesandgentlemen,NorthKoreaisparticipatingforthefirsttimeintheParalympics.TheathletecurrentlyapproachingthefinishlineisNorthKorea’ssoleParalympicparticipant.HeisrepresentingallofNorthKorea’shandicappedpeople.Letusallstandupandhelphimmakeittothefinishline.(chungmakou)againmeaningafriendonegrewupandplayedwithduringchildhood.

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    Everybodystoodupclappingandcheeringtohelphimout.ThereweremanyoverseasSouthKoreansthereandtheyallgotupfromtheirseatsandurgedhimonuntiltheend.NorthKorea’sparticipationintheParalympicswasagreatsuccess.However,onthedaythattheNorthKoreandelegationleftEnglandashamefulthinghappened.OverseasSouthKoreansandreportershadcomeouttotheairporttoseetheNorthKoreandelegationoff.TheNorthKoreandelegationandtheaccompanyingcompanycadreshadboughtlargeamountsofgoodsandthesightofshippingthembyaircaughttheSouthKoreans’andreporters’attention.ThenextdaythisfactwaswidelyreportedinoverseasKoreannewspapers.TheNorthKoreanForeignMinistrycadreshadlaboriouslydispatchedthedelegation,andweresoangrythatthecompanycadresfollowedandlookedafteronlytheirownpreparation.EvensotheoccasionofparticipationintheParalympicsthistimeledtobigchangesinNorthKorea’spolicyonhandicappedpersons.NorthKoreanhandicappedpersonshavebeguntoachieveinternationalexchange.SincethenI’veheldgreatprideandattachmenttoNorthKorea’shandicappedadvancementabroad,andifthereisanythingIcandoforhandicappedpersonsIstepintohelp.

    KimJongIlDies,AnnouncedTwoDaysLaterbyOrderofKimJongUnAfterKimJongUnwasconfirmedassuccessorinSeptember2009itdidn’ttakelongforhimtograspallpowerinNorthKoreaintohishands.ThiswasdifferentfromKimJongIlwhohadtoplaytheroleofnominalsecond-in-commandbeneathhisfatherKimIlSungeventhoughhewaswieldingrealpower.KimJongIl’sdeathapproachedthatabruptly.ItwaselevenAMonMonday,December19,2011.AnoonadirectivecamedownfromthePartycommitteethatallpersonnelshouldgatherinthelecturehallastherewouldbeanimportantbroadcastat12:00o’clock.OnthatdayafterattendingtheEuropeBureaumorningmeetingat9:00AMIwaspracticingpingpongtogetherwithcolleagueathletesinthetheNorthKoreanHandicappedAssociationgym.ThisisbecausewewerehavingtrialsinpreparationfortheForeignMinistryathleticfunctioncommemoratingthebirthdayofKimChŏngsuk17(December24th).HearingthenewsthattherewouldbeanimportantbroadcastIhurriedbacktotheForeignMinistry.InNorthKoreaimportantannouncements,importantbroadcastshavevariousmeanings,butthiswasthefirsttimesincethedeathofKimIlSungthatallpersonnelweretoldtogatherinthelecturehalltowatch.Everybodygatheredtenselyinthehall,butinwardlythought‘surelynot.’Atprecisely12:00o’clockChosŏnCentralBroadcastingannouncerYiCh’unhŭiappeared.Shewaswearing

    17[translator’snote]FirstwifeofKimIlSungandmotherofKimJongIl.

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    blackHanbok.Aninstantsighof‘ah’spreadthroughthelecturehall.TheonlytimebeforethatYiCh’unhŭihadwornmourningclotheswaswhenKimIlSungdied.KimJongIlhaddiedat8:00AMonDecember17th.Theannouncementcameafter51hours,twodays,hadpassed.Theexplanation,accordingtoNorthKoreanpress,wasthattheyoriginallywantedtomaketheannouncementonthesameday.ButbecausethatwasSaturdayKimJongUnhadtheannouncementdelayedsothatresidentscouldrelaxovertheweekend.PerhapsthereisnocountryintheworldbutNorthKoreathatcankeeptopsecretfortwodaysthedeathofthecountry’sleader.Sinceallofthecountry’sadministrativetasksareaccomplishedbycomputer,ifafewpeopleintheThirdFloorSecretariathushthingsuptheNorthKoreansystemwillrollalongasisforawhile.EvenifKimJungUnshouldpassaway,asimilarthingcouldhappen.WhentheimportantbroadcastendedthePartysecretarywentuptotherostrum.Hesaid,“Youcanallreturntowork,”anddisappearedbehindthestage.Everybodyarosefromtheirseatsandscatteredtotheiroffices.Notasinglepersonsobbedorwailed.ThisisdifferentfromwhenKimIlSungdied.Thenthereweremanypeoplelisteningtothebroadcastdaubingtheireyes.Wewentbacktoouroffices,buttherewasnobodytobringoutthelunchboxes.WhenKimIlSungdiedthereweremanypeoplewhosufferedbittercriticismformistakenconduct.Theyferretedoutpeoplewhoafterthecondolenceceremonywenttothesauna,movedhouse,orplayedcards,andbanishedthemtothecountryside.Thinkinghowpeopleunderwentsuchthingseverybodyknewhowtheyhadtoact.However,therewasnolocationtooffercondolences.TodayKimJongIl’sbronzestatuehasbeensetup,butatthattimeonlyKimIlSung’sstatuewasonMansudaeHill.Ministerialstaffaskedme,pumundangsecretary,wheretheyhavetogotopaytheirrespects.EnquiringwiththePartycommitteeweweretoldtowaituntilthereareinstructions.About3:00PMinstructionscamedownfromthePartycommittee.Theyfixedupaspace(incensealtar)intheForeignMinistry’sforeigner’sinterviewroomwherecondolencescouldbepaiduntiltheevening.InNorthKoreayouhavetobegoodatthis.Nobodywantedtogetcaughtsoalldisplayedexcessiveloyalty.Theministerialstaffwhohadn’tshedasingletearwatchingthereportofKimJongIl’sdeathbeganmakingwhitepaperflowersasifsomehowpossessed.Everyonepitchedintomakeagarland.Itwasanactivitythatmadeleavingatquittingtimeunacceptable.Theflowergarlandwascompletedaboutelevenintheevening.Onlythendidthestaffpickupthegarlandandgottothecondolencehall.Andonebyoneeachwentintomourningandemergedsayingtheyweregoingtoholdwatchatthecondolencehall.Atimeperiodwasfixedforeachbureau.TheyreturnedbyrotationandwentdownonehoureachkeepwatchnexttoKimJongIl’sportrait.Itwassimilarinother

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    places.BeginningwithKimIlSungsquarehereandthereinP’yŏngyangtheyhungoutportraitsofKimJongIlwherecondolenceceremonieswereheld.Thenextdayateachperson’sPartyorganizationitwascompulsorytoreporthowmanyhourshadbeenkept.Ifyoudidn’tdothis,youdidn’tknowwhetheryoumightgetsomesortofdisadvantage.KimJongIl’sbodywasdisplayedattheKŭmsusanSunPalace,andastatefuneralwascarriedout.KimJongUn’syoungersisterKimYŏjŏngwasfirstmadepublicintheNorthKoreanpressatthistime.BycontrastKimJongCholwasnot,ofcourse,onthefuneralprogramandhisnamewasnotmentionedbythepress.Thecondolenceritualwascarriedoutwithoutahitchinaveryorganizedfashionasifithadbeenscriptedbeforehand.IjudgedthatJangSongThaekhadactedasthecommanderorganizingthecondolenceceremony.KimJongUnwouldhavebeenupsetatthesuddendeathofhisfather,andinsituationatthattimetheonlypersonwhocouldcomeoutandleadtheNorthKoreansystemcalmlyandwithoutinterruptionwasJangSongThaek.

    EarlyinKimJongUn’sTenure“MakeaKaesŏngIndustrialComplexin14Places”,DisplaysRenovationTendenciesAfterKimJongIldiedNorthKoreaquicklyenteredintotheKimJongUnsystem.ItchangedatfirstfromtheguardregulationsfortheNumberOneEvent.NumberOneEventiswhattheycalleventsthatthehighestleadersattend.FormerlyalltheydidwaspresentthelistofnamesparticipatinginthePartycommitteemeetingtotheGuardCommand(HowiSaryŏngbu),andonthedayofthemeetingSecurityServiceandGuardOfficerswearingcivilianclothesconfirmedpeople’sidentity.ButasKimJongIltookpowerguardsinmilitaryuniformsconfirmedidentitypapers.OnbothsidesoftheentrancetoKimIlSungSquaremachinegunshadbeenemplaced,andoneithersidewasalineoffullyarmedsoldiers.ParticipatingcrowdshadnochoicebuttoenterKimIlSungSquarebetweenthemachineguns.Ihaveexperienceditseveraltimes,buteverytimeIpassinfrontofmachinegunsIfeelashudderatthebackofmyneck.IfanaccidentalstrayshotshouldoccurIcouldonlyhelplesslydie.Totheparticipantswhoenteredtheeventlocationtocheer“LongLiveKimJongUn”havingmachinegunsaimedatthemwasnodifferentthandeclaringmartiallaw.Itseemedtobenothingmorethananattempttostrikefearinordertorepressresidents.Thingscloselyresemblingmartiallawactuallytookplace.FromthedaybeforeNumberOneEventcivilservantsintheministriesinthevicinityofKimIlSungSquareweresenthome.TheemptybuildingsoftheCabinet,theForeignMinistry,theTradeMinistry,theAgricultureMinistry,andtheEducationCommitteewerefilledupwithfullyarmedsoldiers.Soldiersabletosuppressriotsweredeployedinadvance.After-the-facttalkhasnaturallycomeout,butupuntilthistimetherewereonlyafewwhopredictedKimJongUnstylepoliticsoffear.

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    OnApril11,2012KimJongUnbecomesWorkersPartyFirstSecretary.OnApril13thasheascendedtoFirstChairmanoftheNationalDefenseCommissionheinheritedalloftheresponsibilitiesofKimJongIl.Forthefirsttimeinworldhistoryathreegenerationalinheritanceofpowerinarepublicangovernmentbecameformalized.OnthisdaytheyshotoffBrightStarNumber3,butitfailedbecauseoftechnicalproblems.OnJuly18ththeSupremePeoples’AssemblydecidedtobestowonKimJongIl,Commander-in-ChiefoftheChosŏnPeoples’Army,thetitleofWŏnsu,tworankshigherthanhisexistingrankofGeneral.Actually,NorthKorea’seliteharboredgreatexpectationswiththeadventofKimJongIl.KimJongUnhadpassedthroughmiddleschoolinSwitzerland.Atatimeofacutesensitivity,anyway,hehadcomeintocontactwithWesternculturalproducts.ItwasanexpectationthatKimJongUnmightaccepttheforward-lookingreformandrenovationthatinordertopreservethesystemKimJongIlcouldn’tbeartocarryout.TheconsensusofNorthKorea’selitewasthatNorthKoreacouldalsotaketheroadlikeChinathatachievedrapiddevelopmentthroughreformandrenovationafterthedeathofMaoZedong.WithanopenedmindworthyoftheoverseasfactionmightnotKimJongIlbeabletomodernizeNorthKorea?Thisexpectationatfirstseemedtocometrue.InNorthKoreathereisa“PolicyTransmissionHour”thatisheldeverySaturdaymorning.It’sanhourinwhichisdeliveredwhatKimJongUnhassaidoverthepastweek.IfyoulookatwhatKimJongUnsaidaroundthattimeitwasonalevelthatonemightthinkNorthKoreawouldgoimpresstelyinreformandrenovation.“Chosŏn’scurrenteconomicsystemisdifficult.Let’salltrystudyingothercountries’economicsystems.Let’sgettheeconomictheoriesthataregoodandstudyallofthem.Let’sgiveitatry.”KimJongUnunhesitatinglyexpressedeventhoughtthatcompletelycontradictedKimJongIl.“Chosŏnhastoreceivedforeigncapitalifitwantstodevelopeconomically,butrightnowinthesituationthattheUnitedStatesisincreasingsanctionstherearen’tmanymethods.Thesedaysthesimplewayofearningforeignexchangeismining.We’vegottogreatlyincreasethenumberofminerstomakeminingdevelop.”KimJongUnevencitedtheexampleoftheKaesŏngIndustrialComplexandemphasizedthenecessityforreformandrenovation.“ManypeopleworrythattheKaesŏngIndustrialComplexmightoverthelongrunthreatenChosŏn’ssystem.Butwhatwegetisgreater.Firstofall,weearnmoneythatisabsolutelynecessaryforus.Second,itmakeseasieranaturalcontrolandmanagementoftheKaesŏngcitypeople.Controlofresidentshasbecomeeversodifficultinotherareasbecauseofmarkets.ThefiftythousandcitizensofKaesŏngall

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    gathertogethertogotoworkandcomehomefromoneplacesowhatmanagementisnecessary?Overall,it’smuchmoreprofitableforus.We’vegottoexpandthiskindofspecialeconomiczoneintotheinterior.Make14moreplaceslikeKaesŏngIndustrialComplex.”KimJongUnalsosentdowntheorder,“Educationisimportant.Constructahighmiddleschoolineverycitydistrictandcountrytostrengthennurturingoftalent.”

    Has‘Arirang’Discontinued,AttemptstoCarveaSofterImageTherewereevenexamplesthatwedirectlyexperiencedintheForeignMinistry.KimJongUnorderedustoholdastand-uppartyforourNewYear’sassembly.ThisisapassagethatrunscountertoKimIlSung’spractice.AtanormalNorthKoreanpartiesthemethodisforeachpersontositinachairtoeattheirfood.AlthoughKimIlSungheldastand-uppartyinthe1960sattherecommendationofPartyInternationalSecretaryPakYonggukwhohadtouredEuropeitendedafteronetry.Thecadresofthetimeopposeditthisway.“Whyshouldwehavetostandstrictlyatbanquetswhenwehavesatupuntilnow?Horsesandsucheatstandingup.Arewehorses?Wedon’twanttostandbecauseourlegsaretired.PakYongguk,therat,wenttoEuropeonceandcamebackwithastrangereport.”AfterthatKimIlSungdidn’thaveanotherstand-upbanquet.Actually,thereasoncadresavoidedthesestand-upbanquetswasn’tthattheywereuncomfortable,butbecausetheydidn’tfitwiththeNorthKoreansystem.Atastand-uppartyyoufreelygouptoandchooseyourconversationpartnerandhavetoselectathemethatmatchesthesituation.ToNorthKoreancadreswho,incasesofactivitywithoutsiders,havetoreceivepermissionbeforehandaboutwhotheycanmeetandwhattopicstheycantalkabout,stand-uppartieswereabsolutely‘clothestheycannotwear.’However,the2012NewYearassemblywasheldinstand-uppartyfashionasorderedbyKimJongUn.England’sandafewotherambassadorscameuptoKimJongUnandgavehimaNewYear’sgreeting,buttheatmospherewasveryuncomfortable.Thecadresandworkersatforeignembassiesclumpedhereandthereeachamongtheirown,andthenitcouldbesaidtobeover.Thepartyended,andintheplacewhereonlythecadresremainsKimJongUnlosthistemper,“Whoconductsactivitywithoutsiderslikethis?”WhileIlookedathisfigureIgotthepositivefeelingthatKimJongUnhadanywaybeentryingsomethingnew.Around2012whenhehadjusttakenpowerKimJongUnwasmuchgentlerthanheisnow.Thecadresdidn’ttremblebeforeKimJongUnliketheydonow.Ifyoucomparehisimagethenwithhisimagenowdefinitedifferencesappear.Cadres

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    couldapproachKimJongUnwithoutdifficulty,andKimJongUnreciprocatedwithafriendlyattitude.EveninJune2012whenconstructiononP’yŏngyang’sCh’angjŏnStreetwascompletedKimJongUnshowedoffashockingwalk.Ch’angjŏnStreet,thenewestapartmentcomplex,canbesaidtobe“NewTown,NorthKoreanEdition,”or“P’yŏngyang’sKangnam.”18KimJongUntogetherwithhiswifeRiSŏljuvisitedfamiliesthathadnewlymovedin.Hepersonallypouredsojuforagedpersonsandwentaboutcultivatingtheimageofapeople’sleader.WhatcausedthegreatestreverberationsamongNorthKoreanresidentswashisdiscontinuingoftheArirangGames.ManyNorthKoreansweredissatisfiedwiththeArirangMassGames.Whywouldn’ttheybedissatisfiedsincestudentsweremobilizedandmadetopracticeforsixmonthseveryyear?Butthishadbeenaproblemthatnobodycouldlayoutortalkabout.Eventhoughtheydidn’tknowwhorecommendedthistoKimJongUn,inasfarashediscontinuedmobilizationofstudentsitwasenoughtoreceiveNorthKoreanresidents’applause.InAugustofthesameyearhisboardinganunarmedwoodenfishingboattoinspecttheNorthKoreanislandsofMudoandChangjaedooppositeYŏnp’yŏngIslandwastoNorthKoreansa‘moving’production.IthadbeensomethingunimaginablewhenKimIlSungorKimJongIlwerealive.BoldlyinspectingthefrontlineswithoutevenanybodyguardsitselfexcitedNorthKoreanresidents.Oddsaregoodthatoldpeopleevencriedseeingthefigureofayoung,vigorousKimJongUnboardinga27-horsepowerwoodenboat,bravingwindandwavestovisitthebackcountry.

    “SeizeEurope’sBBCandAmerica’sABC”AfterKimJongUntookpoweracertainchangebegantohappeninNorthKorea’sdivisionsdealingwiththeoutside.KimJongUnwhohadbeeneducatedabroadwhenhewasyoungunderstoodverywellthepropagandaeffectivenessofthepress,andemphasizedactivitywithforeignopinion.KimIlSungandKimJongIlbothwereveryconcernedwithforeignopinion.KimIlSungknewhowtomakeuseofprominentworldpresslikeTheNewYorkTimesthroughdirectinterviews.KimJongIlneverhadevenasingleinterviewwithaforeignpresscompanybutsentdownguidancethatNorthKoreamustseizeEngland’sBBCinEuropeandABCinAmerica.KimJongIl’sguidancetoseizeBBCmakessense,becauseinEuropeBBC’sinfluenceisbeyondthatofanyotherpressorganization.However,amongAmericanpressitwasCNNthatpaidmoreattentionthanotherstoNorthKoreanproblems.CNNis18[translator’snote]Kangnam“SouthoftheHanRiver”isadistrictinSeoulwithhighclassapartmentsandresidences.

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    alsothepresscompanythathasmadethemostvisitstoNorthKorea.Evenso,ifKimJongIlwantedtochangeAmericanpublicopiniontothebenefitofNorthKorea,itwasn’tCNNbutABCthathesaidhadtobeseized.Idon’tknowthereason.NomatterhowimportantNorthKoreanleadersconsideredthetaskofdealingwithforeignopiniontherewerelimits.Itishardtoexpectspeechtobeeffectiveinasituationinwhichthereisnofreedomofspeech.It’sNorthKorea’scontradictionandtragedy.TheForeignMinistryheadedoffforeignpress’scriticismofNorthKorea,andtheyalwaysagonizedaboutproblemsofusingpublicrelationsmethodsonthese.UsingthelipsofforeignopiniontoquicklydeliverNorthKorea’spointofviewisalsoatasktheForeignMinistryfaces.However,theforeignpressemphasizesSouthKoreanpressmorethanNorthKoreanpress.IfincidentshappenliketheshellingofYŏnp’yŏngIslandortheblowingupoftheCh’ŏnan,SouthKoreanpressreportitonestepaheadoftheNorthKoreanpress.MoreoverthereportsofChosŏnCentralBroadcastingortheWorkers’Dailyarefragmentaryandmonotonouswithoutevenanyparticularcontent.TheforeignpressnaturallyhavetocitethecontentsofSouthKoreanpressorquotethem.AnyonecaneasilyguessthereasonNorthKoreanpressreportsareslow.It’sbecausetherearestrictcontrolsonreports.IftheNorthKoreanpressreportonincidentslikethecapsizingoftheferrySewŏl19ortheimpeachmentofPresidentParkGeun-hye20theyhavetopassthroughprocedures.TheReportOfficeoftheUnificationFrontBureaumustgetpermissionfromtheCentralPartyPropagandaandAgitationDepartment’sSouthKoreaConditionsReportOffice,transmittoKimJongUna“PlantoReportonSouthKoreanConditions”andgethisapproval.Internationalnewslikethe9.11terror,ortheIraqWararenotmuchdifferent.TheForeignMinistryReportOfficemustgetpermissionfromtheCentralPartyPropagandaandAgitationDepartment’sForeignPropagandaOfficeandtransmittoKimJongUnonWednesdayeachweek“NextWeek’sReportPlan,”andgethisapproval.GenerallyNorthKoreapressissueinternationalnewsaboutaweeklate.NorthKoreanpressfacesthecontradictorysituationofhavingtospeakbutlipsnotbeingabletomoveastheywant.ConsideringthisKimJongIlorKimJongUnhaveanambivalentattitudeontheproblemofreportingabouttheoutsideworld.SomedaystheytellForeignMinistrydiplomatstoactivelyattractinterestinNorthKorea’s19OnApril16,2014theSouthKoreanferrySewŏlcapsizedandsankoffthesouthwestcoastdrowning304passengersandcrew.Alargeportionofthevictimswerehighschoolstudentsonanouting.20SouthKoreanPresidentParkGeun-hyewasimpeachedbytheSouthKoreanNationalAssemblyonDecember9,2016onchargesinvolvingcorruptionandinfluencepeddling.TheimpeachmentwasupheldbySouthKorea’sConstitutionalCourt,andshewasremovedfromofficeonMarch10,2017.Shewassubsequentlytriedandfoundguiltyofabuseofpowerandcoercionandwasimprisoned.

  • 35

    positionthroughinterviewsandbriefingswithforeignpress.Yetonotherdaystheychangetheirwordssayingtheycannottolerateevenlittlemistakes,andForeignMinistrydiplomatscannotcontactforeignpressjustastheyplease.

    NobodyWantstobeForeignMinistrySpokesperson,PublishOpinionOnlyThroughDocumentsForeignMinistrydiplomatswhohavecontactwithforeignpressgetcriticizedformistakesatweeklyormonthlyPartyLifeSummary.Upuntilthislevelthecriticismisbycolleaguesandisnotthathumiliating.However,atquarterlyPartyLifeSummaryheldeverythreemonths1000ministryofficialsgatherinthelecturehall,anditispresidedoverbytheUndersecretaryofthePartyCoordinationandGuidanceDepartmentresponsiblefortheForeignMinistry.Thiscriticismbyonlyacoupleofpeopleinstalledonthedebatestageisveryhumiliatingforthepersoninvolved,andthepunishmentlevelcanrise.ThePartyundersecretaryisfaithfultoKimJongIl’sguidancethat,“Lifesummarymustbecarriedoutinaatmosphereofideologicalstruggle.”TheatmosphereofquarterlyPartyLifeSummarywasalwaysrewardandpunishment.WhenIwasViceHeadoftheEuropeBureauCh’oeHwi,whovisitedtheSouthduringtheP’yŏngch’angWinterOlympics,wasUndersecretaryofthePartyCoordinationandGuidanceDepartmentresponsiblefortheForeignMinistry.ForeignMinisterPakŬich’un,too,infrontofCh’oeHwiwaslikeamouseinfrontofacat.Ifyoudon’twanttomakeself-criticismatQuarterlyPartyLifeSummerythebestthingistodotheworldyou’reorderedtowithoutrandomcontactwithforeignpress.Whowouldwantaninterviewwithforeignpressinthisenvironmentoframpantself-preservation?ItwasthetimepointjustbeforethecelebrationofKimIlSung’s100thbirthdayinApril2012.Eventotheextentofopeningasatellite-launchingsitetotheforeignpresstheywereattemptedtoharvestexceptionalresults.AdirectivecamedowntooverseasambassadorstellingthemtohaveinterviewswithforeignpresstopropagateNorthKorea’spolicy.Howeverthegreatmajorityofambassadorsavoidedinterviewswithforeignpressasbefore.ThatyearIparticipatedinacouncilopenedintheForeignMinistry.Itwasameetingrelatedtothetaskwithforeignpress.Iproposedthisway.“RightnowtheForeignMinistrypublicizestherepublicsviewsonforeignaffairsonlythroughannouncementsandcommuniqués.Solelythroughdocuments.Evenifweshouldpublishthesethroughbroadcastannouncersitwouldn’tchangeanything.InnocountryintheworlddobroadcastannouncerssimplyreadForeignMinistryannouncementsandcommuniqués.NowourForeignMinistryshouldalsohaveaspokespersoncametododirectbriefingswiththeforeignpressandtakequestions.Thisisaworldwidetendency.Sinceonlypublisheddocumentscomeoutin

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    P’yŏngyangitdoesn’tmakesensetotellon-the-spotambassadorstohaveinterviewswithpress.Youcan’tguaranteespeed,andyoudon’tgettimelyeffectiveness.”ActuallyIhadlongsincereceivedarequestfromAPTN21askingiftheycouldhaveaninterviewandapressconferencewithaForeignMinistryspokesperson.Itwasareasonablerequest.ThepresidingchairmansidesteppedmyproposalreallybyorderingtheForeignMinistryReportBureautoassumethespokespersonrole.Butallweresittingmuteneitherrefutingnorsupportingmyopinion.Theirdiscomfortwasobvious.Themeetingclosedwithoutcomingtoanyconclusions.AfterthemeetingAmbassadorSongIrhowhoboreresponsibilityfornegotiationswithJapantoldmequietly.“ThataForeignMinistryspokespersonshouldholdabriefingfordomesticandforeignreportersisalreadyanitemthatGeneralKimJongIldecidedforus.Iguessyouknowthis,too,buttheproblemisthatwithintheForeignMinistrythereisnobodywhowouldvolunteertobespokesperson.TherewouldbenothingbuttroubleIfyoumakeamistake,andwhowantsthat?”HemeantthatIcouldtalkthatwayforsurebutnothingwillgetchanged.EvenafterthateverytimeIgottheopportunityIrecommendedsettingupasystemoftransmittingP’yŏngyang’spointofviewtothewholeworldthroughaninterviewwithAPTV’sP’yŏngyangbranch,butintheendIcouldn’tputitthrough.

    YiSŏljuAppearsPlayinganAmericanSongwithMoranbongBand,IsIttheBeginningofOpeningUp?IwasalsoundertheillusionthatKimJungUnmightgiveuphislineofnucleardevelopmentandleadustowardrenovationandopening.OntheeveningofJuly6,2012aspecialmusicperformancewasputoninP’yŏngyang.ByorderofKimJongUnitwasthefirstperformanceofMoranbongBand.Twothingssurprisedmeaboutthis.OnewasthatRiSŏljusatnexttoKimJongUntowatchtheperformance.AtthistimeRiSŏlju’snameandstatushasnotbeenmadepublic.TheotherwasthatamongtheforeignsongsplayedbyMoranbongBandweremanyAmericanpopularsongs.Ofcourseitwasn’texplainedthattheywereAmerican.WhatImeanisthatwhile“GonnaFlyNow”,amongthethemesongsof“Lucky”,wasbeingplayedthetopstagescreen’ssupertitlesintroduceditinthemannerof“Lightmusic,‘Rightnowflyingup’(foreignsong).”ThissongappearswhileLuckingisrunningbyhimselfandshadowboxing,andonthescreenbehindtheMoranbongBandstagetheactualscenefromthemovie“Lucky”wasevenspreadoutasbackground.AlsoFrankSinatra’s“MyWay”wasperformedintroducedas,“LightMusic‘MyPath’(foreignsong).”21[translator’snote]AssociatedPressTelevisionNetwork.

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    Thehighlightwasamedleyofcartoonthemesongsintroducedas,“WorldAnimationFamousSongCollection.”AcollectionofthemesongsfromDisneyCartoonswerecollectedincludingMickeyMouse,UncleBearPpu(Winnie-the-Pooh),SnowWhiteandtheSevenDwarves,Cinderella,andBeautyandtheBeast.CharactersdressedupasMickeyMouse,MinnieMouse,Winnie-the-Poohappearedwhileonthestagescreenthecorrespondingcartoonpassedbylikeapanorama.Althoughtheywrote“FamousAmericanCartoonSongCollection”itwasn’tcolorless. RegularNorthKoreanswhohavewatchedTVwouldn’thaveknownthesewereAmericansongsandcartoons,butIwhohadseenmanyAmericanmoviesoverseasgraspedeverythingeasily.Itwasentirelyunprecedented.IheardthattheygatheredagoodnumberofthethemesfromSouthKorea.ThesedaysyoucanfindpublicperformancesofcartoonsonY-tube.ForseveralyearstheNorthKoreanStateSymphonyOrchestrahasbeenpracticingAmericanpublicperformances.TheMoranbongBandperformsAmericanpopularmusicanditseemsclearthatKimJongUnhasorderedthatthisbebroadcastonTV.SincetheMoranbongBandhascompletedpreparationstobesenttoAmericaitwouldbeasignalthatNorthKoreaisopeningitsdoors.RiSŏljuappearedpubliclyonNorthKoreapressonJuley25th.TheTVreported,“KimJongUntogetherwithhiswife,ComradeRiSŏlju,tookpartinthecompletionceremonyofNŭngnaPeople’sAmusementPark.”IhadsupposedthatthewomansittingatKimJongUn’ssideatthetimeoftheMoranbongBand’sfirstperformancewouldbehiswife,butitwastrulyunexpectedthatthetitle‘ComradeRiSŏlju’evencameout.WhatmadeNorthKoreanresidentsevenmoresurprisedwasthesightofRiSŏljuwalkingintimatelywithherarminKimJongUn’s.InNorthKoreaforevenamarriedcoupletowalkdownthestreetarminarmisquiteunseemlybusiness.Andthisthing,too,wasatastateceremonywhereagedcadresallcouldsee.Itcouldevenbeseenasahighlyindiscreetact.

    InstantReturnofPoliticsofTerror,Peoples’ArmyChiefofStaffExecutedEvenintheForeignMinistrythatimagewasconstantlytalkedabout.Worldpublicationsevenhadfeaturearticles.SomeofthepublicationsreportedthatthiswassomethingJongUndeliberatelyperformedtoshowhimselftohaveanopen,civilizedcharacter.OnthisdayRiSŏljucametobethestarofanevenmoredramaticepisode.KimJongUnhadpropose


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