N. Korea to promote young economic elite in 2009: report

SEOUL, Dec. 31 (Yonhap) -- North Korea will refresh its parliament with promotions of young economic elite in 2009, laying the groundwork for the post-Kim Jong-il era, a South Korean state-run think tank said.

Economic pragmatism may emerge in the North to replace the military-first policy,
a ruling philosophy promulgated by current leader Kim Jong-il, according a latest
report by the Institute for National Security Strategy, which is an arm of the
National Intelligence Agency.
Uncertainty over the North Korean regime deepened this past year amid reports
that Kim may be in bad health after suffering a stroke.
Kim's health has been a subject of keen attention as he has not publicly
nominated a successor.
Between July and August, the think tank expected North Korea's Supreme People's
Assembly will hold an election to promote new faces.
"In the assembly, some of the elderly members are expected to step down and
younger ones advance forward, and there will be an increased presence of economic
elite and 'diligent heroes' who have led by example in economic projects," it
said.
The election did not take place in 2008, when the assembly members' five-year
term expired. The current 687 representatives were elected in 2003.
The reshuffle will also affect key military officials, giving greater autonomy to
the country's economic leaders, it said.
The report expected North Korea will reach out to China and the United States to
draw food and economic aid, but the stalemate in its relations with South Korea
will continue in the new year.
hkim@yna.co.kr