North Korea’s rigid power structure, long dominated by Kim Jong Un, faces a potential shake-up. South Korea’s National Assembly Research Service (NARS) reports that Choe Ryong Hae, a trusted aide has built a new power circle within the regime.
This development could challenge Kim’s unchallenged authority, raising questions about the future of North Korea’s leadership.
Key Figure: Choe Ryong Hae, head of the Organization and Guidance Department, North Korea’s most powerful administrative body. Source: National Assembly Research Service (NARS), South Korea.
Choe Ryong Hae, often called Kim’s right-hand man, leads the Organization and Guidance Department (OGD), a secretive office handling party and military appointments, dismissals, and surveillance.
Historically controlled by the Kim family, the OGD’s reins now rest with Choe, marking a significant shift. He operates behind the scenes, strategically placing loyalists in key administrative roles to tighten his grip on power.
Choe hails from an elite family. His father, a guerrilla fighter against Japan, gave him a prestigious lineage. Choe rose through the military, becoming a general under Kim Jong Il.
He survived purges, including the 2013 execution of Kim’s uncle, Jang Song Thaek, by distancing himself at the right moment. In 2015, Choe faced a brief exile to a labor farm for “re-education” but rebounded, reportedly leveraging his son’s marriage to Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un’s influential sister.
By 2017, Choe returned to the inner circle. In 2019, he was appointed North Korea’s ceremonial head of state, a symbolic role that cemented his status as the regime’s second-most powerful figure.
NARS suggests Choe is building this power circle with Kim’s approval, mirroring past moves by Jang Song Thaek, who also tried consolidating influence but was executed for treason.
However, Choe’s growing network is a potential threat. Analysts believe that if his loyalists gain too much influence, their influence could undermine Kim’s absolute control.Whether Choe aims to rival Kim remains unclear, but his actions signal a subtle power shift in Pyongyang’s opaque hierarchy.
Implications for Kim’s Regime
Kim Jong Un’s rule thrives on absolute loyalty, with dissent often met with death. Choe’s rise introduces uncertainty. If his power circle grows too strong, it could fracture the regime’s unity, forcing Kim to tighten his grip or confront a rare internal challenge. For now, Choe remains a loyal aide, but his growing influence has caught the attention of South Korean observers.
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North Korea’s closed system makes verifying these shifts difficult, but NARS’s findings highlight a rare crack in Kim’s ironclad control. As Choe continues to maneuver, the world watches for signs of change in one of the most secretive regimes.
