Shaman Kim Jong Un And His Rise

Dispatched by President Barack Obama on a secret 2011 visit to Pyongyang to propose resumption of disarmament negotiations, DeTrani met Jang Song Thaek, second in command in Pyongyang and the brother in law of then-leader Kim Jong Il. Jang welcomed the American overture, saying“in a soft and non-confrontational voice that the United States should remove its hostile policy toward North Korea and work to improve relations through dialogue” – at the highest level.

As DeTrani tells it :

Coming out of DeTrani's promising 2011 meeting with Jang Song Thaek, the two sides failed to reach agreement. Kim Jong Il died at the end of that year. In 2013 Kim Jong Un, who had succeeded his father, had Jang – his uncle and erstwhile mentor – tried and executed for alleged treason.

Jang's tragic demise could be a reminder that political autism is not just a North Korean hallmark. Propelled by its domestic agenda, the US can be oblivious of its international obligations, driving countries away.

For instance, Muammar Ghaddafi's Libyan experience is not forgotten in Pyongyang. In 2003, Ghaddafi gave up his program to produce weapons of mass destruction. It was in the wake of 9/11 and the subsequent US attack on Iraq, which had been justified by the charge that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was manufacturing weapons of mass destruction. Ghaddafi bought himself just a short lease on life. In 2011, he was toppled and killed in a US-backed revolution.

North Korea followed those events and drew an eerie moral from them: Had Ghaddafi or Saddam possessed nuclear weapons, the US would not have interfered with them. Therefore, the North Korean nuclear program is seen as a life policy for the regime, and it's steadfast about it. Yet, DeTrani argues, it's necessary to talk with North Korea and try to find ways forward:

The North Korean maze should lead to a profound rethinking of US global policy. Great power comes with greater responsibilities that can't be ignored or spun away from overnight. Had Ghaddafi met a better fate, and had Saddam and Iraq not been turned into ashes, US diplomacy would have stronger arguments with Kim.

This context is not lost on larger, more complex countries like Iran, Russia, or China. Their analysts may have reasons to doubt the US's real long-term commitments.

Meanwhile, North Korea appears to be undergoing seismic changes that could impact foreign policy further. At the beginning of the year, North Koreans were asked to take loyalty oaths to their leader Kim Jong Un. A ceremony to that effect is believed to have occurred on January 8th to celebrate the leader turning 40. In April, the country stopped marking the“Day of the Sun,” the birth anniversary of its founding leader, Kim Il Sung.

Russia, which supported the grandfather eight decades ago, now pleads for his grandson's aid. All of this projects 40-year-old Kim to a larger stage than the dynastic regime's founder; in fact, there are indications that Kim the 3d is steering his kingdom in a different direction.

The real number two in the regime is his sister, Kim Yo Jong (born September 26th, 1987), who emerged into the limelight in 2020 when her brother Jong Un mysteriously disappeared amid rampant rumors about his health.

The heir-apparent is not male but“Respected Daughter” Kim Ju Ae (born possibly in 2012–2013). Kim Ju Ae is believed to have an older brother born in 2010 and a younger sibling of unknown sex born in 2017. Both seem to have been bypassed in the succession choice. The presence of two women in the top leadership is a rare event in male-dominated East Asia. Kim III's assertion of power could indicate a significant reshuffle in the North Korean power structure.

Sign up for one of our free newsletters

• The Daily Report Start your day right with Asia Times' top stories
• AT Weekly Report A weekly roundup of Asia Times' most-read stories

The North Korean constitution recognizes the rule by“blood right” to the Kims. There are semi-religious rituals performed in honor of Kim's long-dead father and grandfather. The entire North Korean procedures and trappings remind one of Central Asian shamanism, in which women are believed to command more power than men.

This might indicate that Kim Jong Un is ready for more theatrics and surprises, the substance of which the world and the US can only guess.

Francesco Sisci, an analyst and commentator on politics with over 30 years of experience in Asia, is the director of Appia Institute, which originally published this article. It is republished with permission.

Already have an account? Sign i Sign up here to comment on Asia Times stories OR

Thank you for registering!

An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link.