ID :
190312
Wed, 06/22/2011 - 09:57
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/190312
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(LEAD) Spy chief says policy failures dealt blow to N. Korea's heir apparent
(ATTN: UPDATES with more reported comments by spy chief and minor edits)
SEOUL, June 22 (Yonhap) -- A series of policy blunders in North Korea have dealt a blow to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's son and heir apparent, Kim Jong-un, a ruling party lawmaker said Wednesday, citing Seoul's spy chief.
The North carried out a currency reform in 2009 but it is believed to have caused strong public backlash as it led to massive inflation and worsened food shortages.
The impoverished country has also dramatically cut its goal of building 100,000 houses by next year, the centennial of the birth of Kim Il-sung, the country's late founder and grandfather of Kim Jong-un.
Kim's "leadership has been undermined as he failed in the currency reform and built only 500 houses, though he planned to build 100,000," ruling party lawmaker Hwang Jin-ha said, citing Won Sei-hoon, head of the National Intelligence Service.
Won's reported comments at a closed-door session of the parliamentary intelligence committee come amid apparent efforts by North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to extend his family dynasty into a third generation since he suffered a stroke in 2008.
He named his youngest son, Jong-un, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the North's ruling Workers' Party and a four-star general last year in the clearest sign yet to make him the next leader.
The succession, if made, would mark communism's second hereditary power transfer. The elder Kim inherited power from his father, who died in 1994.
Won also told the session that the North's heir apparent appears to be trying to exert his influence by taking a hard-line stance and resorting to military adventurism, such as the shelling of a front-line South Korean island, according to Hwang.
The North insisted the November shelling was provoked by South Korean firing drills on Yeonpyeong Island near their disputed sea border.
The North has also refused to take responsibility for the sinking of a South Korean warship in March last year, keeping the two sides from repairing their relations for more than a year.
Hwang also quoted Won as telling the lawmakers that the North Korean leader made requests to top Chinese officials during his trip to China in May, but there were differences of opinion. No details were given.
SEOUL, June 22 (Yonhap) -- A series of policy blunders in North Korea have dealt a blow to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's son and heir apparent, Kim Jong-un, a ruling party lawmaker said Wednesday, citing Seoul's spy chief.
The North carried out a currency reform in 2009 but it is believed to have caused strong public backlash as it led to massive inflation and worsened food shortages.
The impoverished country has also dramatically cut its goal of building 100,000 houses by next year, the centennial of the birth of Kim Il-sung, the country's late founder and grandfather of Kim Jong-un.
Kim's "leadership has been undermined as he failed in the currency reform and built only 500 houses, though he planned to build 100,000," ruling party lawmaker Hwang Jin-ha said, citing Won Sei-hoon, head of the National Intelligence Service.
Won's reported comments at a closed-door session of the parliamentary intelligence committee come amid apparent efforts by North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to extend his family dynasty into a third generation since he suffered a stroke in 2008.
He named his youngest son, Jong-un, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the North's ruling Workers' Party and a four-star general last year in the clearest sign yet to make him the next leader.
The succession, if made, would mark communism's second hereditary power transfer. The elder Kim inherited power from his father, who died in 1994.
Won also told the session that the North's heir apparent appears to be trying to exert his influence by taking a hard-line stance and resorting to military adventurism, such as the shelling of a front-line South Korean island, according to Hwang.
The North insisted the November shelling was provoked by South Korean firing drills on Yeonpyeong Island near their disputed sea border.
The North has also refused to take responsibility for the sinking of a South Korean warship in March last year, keeping the two sides from repairing their relations for more than a year.
Hwang also quoted Won as telling the lawmakers that the North Korean leader made requests to top Chinese officials during his trip to China in May, but there were differences of opinion. No details were given.
