PYONGYANG, North Korea: North Korea warned the world Friday there would be no softening of its position toward South KoreaÂ’s government after Kim Jong IlÂ’s death as Pyongyang strengthened his North KoreaÂ’s powerful National Defense Commission said that the country would never deal with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, a conservative who stopped a no-strings-attached aid policy toward the North in 2008.
The stern message also said North Korea was uniting around
The younger Kim on Thursday was pronounced Supreme Leader of the ruling party, military and people at a massive public gathering on the final day of official mourning for his father.
The top levels of government appear to have rallied around
“We declare solemnly and confidently that the foolish politicians around the world, including the puppet group in South Korea, should not expect any change from us,” the National Defense Commission said. “We will never deal with the traitor group of Lee Myung-bak.”
In a bellicose voice, a female news anchor for state TV read the National Defense Commission statement, saying the “evil misdeeds” of the Lee administration reached a peak when it prevented South Koreans from visiting North Korea to pay respects to Kim Jong Il, except for two delegations led by a former first lady and a business leader, both of whose husbands had ties to North Korea.
North Korea had said foreign official delegations would not be allowed at the funeral but that it would welcome any South Koreans who wanted to travel to pay respects to Kim.
“Even though we lost Kim Jong Il, we have the dear respected Kim Jong Un,” Kang Chol Bok, a 28-year-old officer of the Korean People’s Internal Security Forces, told The Associated Press. “We will turn our profound sorrow into strength and courage.”
The NorthÂ’s statement is a warning for Seoul not to take the new leadership lightly, said Koh Yu-hwan, a North Korea expert at SeoulÂ’s Dongguk University.
“It is also raising the stakes in case the South wants better relations so Pyongyang can extract greater concessions” during any later talks, Koh said. He added that it’s “too early to say the North is dashing hopes for reforms.”
| Oh well. The South tried. Keep the border strong and wait it out... |
But it added that any better ties won’t be “based on the deceitful ploys South Korea is employing by mixing ‘toughness’ and ‘flexibility.’” Seoul has signaled a change in its approach toward Pyongyang in recent months, saying it will be more flexible in dealing with the North.
Titles are important in North Korea and part of the myth-building surrounding the Kim family legacy.
Kim Il Sung, the countryÂ’s first and only president, retains the title Eternal President even after his death.
Kim Jong Il held three main positions: chairman of the National Defense Commission, general secretary of the WorkersÂ’ Party and supreme commander of the Korean PeopleÂ’s Army. According to the constitution, his position as chairman of the National Defense Commission made him Supreme Leader of North Korea.
Kim Jong Un was made a four-star general last year and appointed a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WorkersÂ’ Party. Since his fatherÂ’s death, North Korean officials and state media have given him a series of new titles: Great Successor, Supreme Leader and now Great Leader.