Kim Jong-un's shake-up aimed at solidifying grip on military: Experts

Arirang News

MAY 15, 2013

This is General Jang Jong-nam, North Korea's newly appointed Minister of the People's Armed Forces.

General Jang, who served as the Commander of the First Army Corps, looks comparatively younger than other high-ranking military officials in North Korea most of whom are 60 to 70 years old.

Just 10 days ago, former hard-line army chief Kim Kyok-sik was seen in public accompanying the country's leader Kim Jong-un, but Pyongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency on Monday indirectly announced he had been replaced.

"We are aware of the replacement. The South Korean military is keeping a close eye on North Korea's military activities and that includes the appointments of high-ranking officials."

This is the third time the reclusive regime has named a new head of the armed forces since last April.

Many North Korea watchers see this as an attempt by Kim Jong-un to reshuffle the army with younger military personnel, seeking a shift in generations where the state's strongest powers are concentrated.

Experts say, by replacing top posts with fresh officials, Kim is trying to induce greater allegiance to his perceived nascent leadership and solidify his grip on the military.

Moreover, outgoing Kim Kyok-sik is known to have had a hand in the shelling of the South's Yeonpyeong Island and sinking of the warship Cheonan in 2010, the North's two biggest military provocations in recent years that killed 50 South Koreans.

So some analysts argue Pyongyang may be looking into a new approach in its dealings with South Korea and the U.S.

Although Seoul's government officials cautioned against reading too much into the new appointment, some analysts are also raising the possibility that this may indicate the instability within the North's military.

Han Da-eun, Arirang News.