Power in the North Korean military is expected to be more heavily concentrated in the hands of newly appointed Defense Minister Kim Yong-chun, an intelligence officer in the South said after the military shakeup on Feb. 11. | Does he bring the military to heel, or does he represent the military -- or does he plan to grab the country for himself? |
Kim Young-chun is a prominent hardliner who led a host of North Korean provocations against the South since 1995. The 1998 North Korean submarine intrusion on the east coast, the 1998 test of a Taepodong-1 missile, the first inter-Korean naval skirmish off Yeonpyeong Island in 1999, the second naval clash there in 2002 and the firing of a Taepodong-2 missile and a nuclear device in 2006 all took place while Kim was chief of staff.
As a consequence, the South Korean military is said to be on alert, concerned that the emergence of hardliner is another sign that the North is preparing for further provocations. There has been press speculation that Kim Jong-il's appointment of Kim Yong-chun may be a step toward making his third son Jong-un, born to his late wife Ko Yong-hi, his heir.