CIA list confirms N. Korean cabinet shakeup

SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency has released its
latest list of North Korean cabinet members which confirmed a shakeup of the
country's industrial ministers, its Web site showed.
Seoul's Unification Ministry said last week North Korea reshuffled five
industry-related ministers late last year. The shakeup coincided with North
Korea's new year economic drive to rebuild the country's frail industrial
infrastructure and solve chronic food shortages.
The CIA list of foreign governments updated on Jan. 7 confirmed the new names in
the North's Cabinet member list: Minister of Agriculture Kim Chang-sik, Minister
of Electric Power Industry Ho Thaek, Minister of Forestry Kim Kwang-yong,
Minister of Metal Industry Kim Thae-bong and Minister of Railways Chon Kil-su.
Speculation has grown that Pyongyang may be replacing more ministers, but the CIA
list had no other new names.
Intelligence sources told Yonhap on Thursday that Kim has named his third and
youngest son, Kim Jong-un, as his successor. The multiple sources well-informed
on North Korea said Kim sent a directive on the designation to the Workers' Party
around Jan. 8.
Kim, who has shunned talk of a power transfer, made the decision earlier than
expected, driven by his poor health condition after suffering a stroke last
August, they suggested. Kim's 67th birthday is next month.
"The report could not be confirmed," Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun
said.
On the CIA list, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il held the country's three top
posts -- general secretary of the Workers' Party, supreme commander of the Korean
People's Army and chairman of the National Defense Commission. Jo Myong-rok was
first vice chairman of the National Defense Commission, while Kim Yong-nam was
president of presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, the North's parliament
which is set to hold an election on March 8.
A parliamentary election in North Korea has usually brought reshuffles in the
Cabinet and the military. New lawmakers also reappoint leader Kim as the National
Defense Commission chairman, whose term of office coincides with that of the
assembly.
The CIA did not list Kim's brother-in-law, Jang Song-thaek who is reportedly
second in power.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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