The stability of North Korea is important for the world. So, unexplained changes in it's government is a cause for concern. Sooo....when North Korea replaces its prime minister
North Korea replaced its prime minister Wednesday during a session of its rubber-stamp parliament, the country's state media reported.
Pak Pong Ju was relieved of the premiership and replaced by Kim Yong Il, the official Korean Central News Agency reported, without giving any reasons for the shuffle.
That is important news...
More after the fold
The move comes amid intense diplomacy aimed at getting North Korea to meet a Saturday deadline to shut down its main nuclear reactor under a February disarmament agreement in exchange for aid and political concessions.
At the assembly's meeting Wednesday, the delegates heard reports on the budget with officials claiming success in meeting goals for revenue and spending, although no money figures were given.
Vice Premier Kwak Pom Gi, who led the session instead of the ousted Pak, said the country's main economic goal this year was to "improve the standard of people's living" along with the "modernization of the national economy," according to KCNA.
The new prime minister, Kim Yong-il, has been the transport minister since 2003. His job, perhaps, will be to complete a railroad link to South Korea. (although with this: N Korea train blast 'kills many' Up to 3,000 dead on his past history...one does wonder...)
Pak Pong Ju, the old PM, was put in place in 2003. His job was to jump-start the North Korean economy using China as a model.
The Washington post has some analysts here:
Sacked N.Korean premier fell foul of army: analysts
South Korean media said Pak Pong-ju, a technocrat once seen as a rising star leading the country's nascent economic reforms, may have been disciplined and his movements restricted.
"There is rumor that Pak fell out of favor with (leader) Kim Jong-il because he misused oil funds to be used for the farming sector," said Kim Young-yoon at the Korea Institute for National Unification.
Rumors, shakes head... Still, give the paranoia of North Korea we're probably lucky to even have rumors to go on.
Analysts say premiers typically have had little sway in a country where a personality cult ensures power focuses on leader Kim Jong-il and whose policies strongly favor the military.
But, about two years ago, the secretive North sent Pak on a much publicized visit to China to study the economic miracle of the North's giant neighbor and closest ally.
At that time, Pak was often seen at public events covered by the North's official media near leader Kim, who typically surrounds himself with senior military figures, leading to speculation he was close to the center of power.
Given the pressure that North Korea is under about its Nuclear policy... Changing the PM, especially for what looks for "misused oil funds", in the midstream is not a good sign.
The PM was changed because he opposed Kim Jong-il's policies.
Hopefully he was opposed to a calm solution to the nuclear crisis between North Korea and the US.
Because, if he wanted that to happen, and he was sacked due to that opinion.... One, then has to wonder how long this will last: Breaking! Richardson Scores Nuke Deal with North Korea
thank you for reading
jeff