Analyses of the Korean Media

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How do the Korean media view the news of Kim Jong-il’s death? We have looked at the features and analyses of the major media on 20^th, the next day.

Chosun Ilbo

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Han Sung-ju wrote a column titled ‘Leadership vacuum of North Korea’ and said, “The death of Kim Jong-il is different from the death of Kim Il-sung.”   

“Kim Il-sung is a man who waged the Korean War but witnessed the collapse of the communist world in his old age. He tried to talk to South Korea and tried to negotiate about the nuclear issue…… On the contrary, Kim Jong-il encouraged developing nuclear weapons and missiles. He used nuclear weapons as a means of trade and intimidation…… Kim Jong-un was designated as the successor but it is difficult to imagine him growing powerful like his father Kim Jong-il.”

Former North Korean diplomat Koh Young-hwan, currently working at Institute for National Security Strategy claimed, “North Korea without Kim Jong-il is likely to go off in a positive direction”, in a column titled ‘Kim Jong-il has died, a new day for North Korea’.   

He wrote, “North Korea will be born again as a normal state after the death of Kim Jong-il and the people of North Korea will find freedom and happiness soon in the near future. Perhaps I will be able to visit Pyongyang again in my lifetime and just thinking about this gives me a rapid heartbeat.”

Hankyoreh

Former Minister of Unification Lee Jong-suk said, “The future of the Korean Peninsula depends on a smooth landing of North Korea” in a column analyzing the death of Kim Jong-il and its aftermath.

 “The fact that Kim Jong-un needs support from other senior officials such as Jang Sung-taek in order to consolidate his position means instability in North Korea is quite serious…… Kim Jong-un has nothing to show off as the supreme leader apart from his legitimate birthright. Therefore, he may focus on the improvement of the North Korean people’s standard of living rather than the leaders in the past.”

Managing Editor Kwon Tae-sun said in a column titled ‘Mature attitude requited in a critical moment’, “It is not difficult to stabilize the Korean Peninsula as long as a trustworthy relationship with the new authorities of North Korea is established.”   

 “The death of Kim Jong-il might bring more instability to the Korean Peninsula than that of Kim Il-sung in 1994…… We must not be shaken by the voices of the absorption unification advocates and this has to be the chance to improve the relationship between the North and the South. The whole country and the people could be put in danger if we act imprudently for short-term advantages.”     

Joongang Ilbo

Managing Editor Kang Young-jin said in his column titled ‘Absolute leader Kim Jong-il’s vacant seat’, “It is self-evident that North Korea will be put in crisis as time goes by.”

“In North Korea, the disappearance of Kim Jong-il is the same as the disappearance of the supreme priest of a religious state. North Korea will face a crisis. Unlike his father, it will not be easy for the youngest son Kim Jong-un to exercise power over people.”

Hankook Ilbo

Editorial Director Kang Byung-tae said in his column titled ‘North Korea’s change is a blessing’, “Changes are already happening with the death of Kim Jong-il.”

 “We cannot predict that sole leadership regime based on Kim Jong-il’s personality cult would continue or not. There is nobody like Kim Jong-il who can rule over the army and the society. It is anticipated that insecurity and confusion are unavoidable.”

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