Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s one-time right-hand man was today confirmed to have made a comeback to Pyongyang’s inner circle, after reportedly being
purged and sent to a farm for “re-education”. Analysts said the reversal of fortune for Choe Ryong-Hae is the latest in a series, and indicate the young leader may be taking a softer line after earning a reputation for ruthlessness with the elimination of high-ranking officials including his uncle.
“The series of reinstatements of key officials this year suggests Kim Jong-Un might be backtracking on his reign of terror”, said Cheong Seong-Chang, senior researcher at the
Sejong Institute in Seoul.
Choe’s reinstatement was revealed when North Korea announced a state funeral committee for Kim Yang-Gon, a senior official who died in a traffic accident yesterday. His name was listed sixth, after Kim’s and four other senior party officials. Choe, a vice marshal who was once considered number-two in the Stalinist state next to Kim himself, was purged last month and sent to a farm for “re-education”, according to South Korea’s spy agency.
The agency said he was likely punished over a serious water leak at a power station. North Korean soldiers are widely mobilised in construction projects in the heavily
militarised state. Another official known to have been dismissed but also included on the funeral committee list was Won Dong-Yon, deputy director of a department chaired by Kim Yang-Gon, who died in a traffic accident yesterday.
Cheong said Jong-Un might have brought Won back to replace Kim Yang-Gon who oversaw ties with South Korea and who state edia described as the leader’s “most trustworthy” aide. Earlier this year, two other cadres — former top construction official Ma Won-Chun and one-time party financial official Han Kwang-Sang — were also reinstated following short-lived purges.
Kim earned a reputation for brutality after unconfirmed reports emerged of a deadly clearing of the decks after he came to power in 2011, replacing his father Kim Jong-Il. Defence minister Hyon Yong-Chol was said to have been executed in April by anti-aircraft fire for dozing off during formal military rallies.
And Kim had his powerful uncle Jang Song-Thaek executed in December 2012 on charges of treason and corruption, allowing Choe to emerge as his right-hand man. Rumours of political purges and even executions regularly emerge from the isolated North, but sometimes these are rebutted when the official in question resurfaces in state media.
