North Korea is a place where whispers of negativity about the leadership can get one thrown into a gulag for life. Even so, the brutal and swift execution last week of Jang Song-taek, the uncle of leader Kim Jong-un, was unusual. Prior to this very public event, every analyst of this opaque country believed Jang would continue interminably as the senior regent and the second most powerful man in North Korea supporting the young Kim. Boy, were they wrong.
Between the execution of Jang and the purging of General Ri Yung-ho, the top general, in July 2012, the young Kim appears to be striking out on his own. Yet it is not clear what is his power base.
The first leader of North Korea, Kim Il-sung, favored the Party over the military in building his personality cult. The second, Kim Jong-il, chose military over party. But this brash young 30-year old is alienating both institutions and the vast networks of cronies attached to stalwarts like Jang and Ri. That is bold, but it is also risky.