Silence From North Korea on Party Congress
Bloomberg reports:
North Korea may have missed its own deadline to hold the regime’s biggest political gathering in 30 years, fueling speculation the health of leader Kim Jong Il is worsening as he prepares to transfer power to his son.
State media had said, without giving any precise dates, the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea would convene a congress in “early September” to elect “its highest leading body.” As the midpoint of the month passed with no mention of a meeting, speculation has increased that it was delayed either because of Kim’s deteriorating health or damages from recent floods.
The congress has raised expectations Kim may seek to legitimize a hereditary succession to his youngest son Kim Jong Un. The last party meeting in 1980 cemented Kim’s position as successor to his father, North Korean founder Kim Il Sung.
“North Korea may have been taken aback by all of this focus on Kim Jong Un when they’re still uncertain within themselves whether to make him public,” said Kim Yong Hyun, a professor of North Korean studies at Seoul-based Dongguk University. “It could also be the country has yet to finalize its key policies to be discussed at the meeting.”
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