North Korea's ruling party will hold its biggest meeting in decades on September 28 to pick a new leadership, state media reported on Tuesday, and likely anoint an heir to the dynasty as Kim Jong-il's health deteriorates. Kim, who is believed to have suffered a stroke in 2008, has reportedly accelerated succession plans, and analysts say his youngest son, Kim Jong-un, is likely to be given an official title at the Workers' Party conference.
The North's KCNA news agency said the conference would be held in Pyongyang "for electing its supreme leadership body", but provided no further details of the agenda. The meeting had been slated to start in early September. The report made no mention of the delay.
South Korea said it appeared the meeting was held up by "internal problems", probably related to flooding. Media reports have also speculated Kim's health or disagreements over a reshuffle of the power structure could be responsible for the delay. Party meetings have been held around the country to elect delegates to the conference, KCNA reported.
"The meetings elected working people and officials who have displayed patriotic devotion at the work sites for effecting a fresh revolutionary surge, remaining intensely loyal to the party and revolution as delegates to the conference," it said. Next week's meeting will be the biggest gathering of the reclusive state's political elite since 1980, when Kim himself began his official role to succeed his father and state founder by taking on a Workers' Party title at the age of 38.
The 68-year-old leader, however, is not expected to go into retirement just yet despite his declining health, experts say, as his 20-something son, Kim Jong-un, is considered too young and inexperienced. Analysts say the younger Kim will likely be given a party post next week, even though it might only be a minor role, but any appointment would signal the start of the succession process.
Little is known about the young Kim, except that he was educated in Switzerland and that he reportedly possesses the same ruthless streak as his father. In the event Kim Jong-il dies suddenly, analysts say his brother-in-law Jang Song-taek - who is expected to be promoted to a senior role during next week's meeting - will act as regent until Jong-un is fully ready to take over. Kim Yong-hyun of Dongguk University said North Korea may have wanted to deflect some of the attention from the novice Jong-un, resulting in the conference delay.
"And it took some time to decide whether to reveal publicly the power succession to Kim Jong-un, or keep it secret," he said. Regional powers will all be watching for clues as to how the transfer of power proceeds in the country with a military-first policy and enough fissile material for at least six to eight nuclear weapons.
Victor Cha of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington said American policy toward North Korea would remain steadfast, barring any "catastrophic events or miracles". "The party conference's results may indicate a power transition, but there is little information as to what stage of the transition the conference represents," he wrote on the centre's website. "In short, we may see smoke, but we do not know whether this is the beginning of the fire or the end of it. US sanctions on North Korea will not be eased until the regime takes significant steps toward denuclearisation."
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