Analysis: Kim Jong-un’s agenda brutally clear after execution of his uncle

LONDON — Never before has North Korea purged someone so publicly as it has just eliminated Kim Jong-un’s uncle, Jang Song-thaek.

In the past, purges were usually conducted in secret. But this time not only has the detailed political indictment against Jang been published, but his actual eviction from a party meeting was broadcast on North Korean television.

Then, yesterday, came the announcement from state television that he had been executed for treason, branded “despicable human scum”.

In making this very public display of ruthlessness, Kim probably had three objectives.

First, nobody in North Korea can doubt now that he, and he alone, is in charge. Nor can anybody doubt that he is utterly ruthless in removing anybody who might, in the colourful language of the indictment, “dream different dreams”.

If even the immensely powerful Jang can be brought so low and dispatched so swiftly, then nobody is safe.

Second, Kim has told his country – and the world – that not only Jang the man, but also the vision that he stood for, has been purged.

Jang seems to have argued for a less closed North Korea, one that embraced trade and sought inward investment. He was in charge of several (perhaps all) of its planned special economic zones (an experiment copied from the early days of China’s transformation) and was seen as a strong supporter of economic reform.

The indictment of which he was immediately found guilty accused Jang of “selling off precious resources of the country at cheap prices” and opposing the “development of the industries of Juche iron, Juche fertiliser and Juche vinalon”. This is Pyongyang-speak for the development of indigenous industries (vinalon is a uniquely North Korean – and uniquely uncomfortable – artificial fibre).

LONDON — Never before has North Korea purged someone so publicly as it has just eliminated Kim Jong-un’s uncle, Jang Song-thaek.

In the past, purges were usually conducted in secret. But this time not only has the detailed political indictment against Jang been published, but his actual eviction from a party meeting was broadcast on North Korean television.

Then, yesterday, came the announcement from state television that he had been executed for treason, branded “despicable human scum”.

In making this very public display of ruthlessness, Kim probably had three objectives.

First, nobody in North Korea can doubt now that he, and he alone, is in charge. Nor can anybody doubt that he is utterly ruthless in removing anybody who might, in the colourful language of the indictment, “dream different dreams”.

If even the immensely powerful Jang can be brought so low and dispatched so swiftly, then nobody is safe.

Second, Kim has told his country – and the world – that not only Jang the man, but also the vision that he stood for, has been purged.

Jang seems to have argued for a less closed North Korea, one that embraced trade and sought inward investment. He was in charge of several (perhaps all) of its planned special economic zones (an experiment copied from the early days of China’s transformation) and was seen as a strong supporter of economic reform.

The indictment of which he was immediately found guilty accused Jang of “selling off precious resources of the country at cheap prices” and opposing the “development of the industries of Juche iron, Juche fertiliser and Juche vinalon”. This is Pyongyang-speak for the development of indigenous industries (vinalon is a uniquely North Korean – and uniquely uncomfortable – artificial fibre).

Beijing regarded Jang as its main friend at the court of Kim. Its stunned silence at the news of his removal, followed by a terse statement that this was North Korea’s internal affair, speaks volumes.

Kim chose his moment carefully. Beijing is embroiled in a nasty dispute with its neighbours over islands in the East China Sea, and Kim knows that it will not want, just now, to retaliate against a country that, for all its infuriating behaviour, remains one of its few allies.

The story certainly does not end here. Many people worked for Jang and there are likely to be further purges and attempts to flee North Korea. In particular, Jang was accused of planning a coup using military officers, so it is likely that a number of these will be court-martialled for complicity. And will Kim feel the need to arrange a distraction from this political turmoil? He may already be prepared for another nuclear test, and there are ominous reports of movements of helicopters and rockets near the maritime border with South Korea. The next few months may prove turbulent.

The Daily Telegraph

John Everard was British ambassador to North Korea in 2006-08