Chang Sung-taek
Encyclopedia
Chang Sung-taek, is a North Korea
n politician and the brother-in-law of Kim Jong-il
. He is a leading figure in the North Korean government, and South Korean government officials and academic North Korea watchers suggested that he may have taken on de facto leadership over North Korea due to Kim Jong-il's ill health. Chang is currently Vice-Chairman of the National Defence Commission, a position considered second only to Kim Jong-Il.
He is concurrently director of the State Development Bank, director of the Taepung International Investment Group and director of the Taesong International Group.
, where he studied abroad
between 1968 and 1972. Upon his return, he married Kim Kyong-hui
, the younger sister of Kim Jong-il
. The couple had a daughter, Chang Kum-song (1977–2006), who lived overseas in Paris
as an international student
; she refused an order to return to Pyongyang
and then committed suicide in September 2006, reportedly due to Chang and his wife Kim's opposition to her relationship with her boyfriend.
Party Committee, and later the vice director of the Workers' Party of Korea
's Organisation and Guidance Department since 1982, being first assigned to youth policies and then to capital city construction. In 1989 he was co-opted in the WPK Central Committee
as an alternate member, and promoted to full member in 1992, when he was also appointed first deputy director of the Organization and Guidance Department, with responsibility over security activities.
Chang had been identified by outside analysts as well as North Korean defector
Hwang Jang-yop
as a possible successor to Kim Jong-il; however, on 25 November 2004, South Korea
's National Assembly
heard testimony that he had been purged from his position.
He re-emerged in March 2006, accompanying Kim Jong-il on an official visit to China. In October 2007, the Korean Central News Agency
confirmed that Chang had been promoted to the newly recreated post of first vice-director of the Workers' Party of Korea, with oversight responsibility for the police, judiciary, and other areas of internal security; Jang attended South Korean president
Roh Moo-hyun
's luncheon during the latter's visit to the North. It was later revealed that Chang had been actually appointed director of the Administration Department, an old agency of the Workers' Party abolished in 1990 and re-created by splitting the Organization Department.
Chang was elected to the powerful National Defence Commission
in April 2009; this was viewed as a signal that he could be a potential successor to Kim Jong-il.
In June 2010, in a session of the Supreme People's Assembly, Chang was elected as a vice-chairman of the National Defence Commission. The NDC is North Korea's de facto supreme decision making body. Thus Chang's promotion amounts to something of a executive deputy role, second only to Kim Jong-Il. It is speculated that the move was part of posturing to make Kim Jong-Il's son Kim Jong-un the next leader of North Korea. Chang's position in North Korean politics was also ostensibly boosted by the death of Ri Je-gang
, a senior leader who was tipped by Kim Jong-il as a crucial overseer of the succession campaign.
Later, at the WPK Conference held in September
2010, he was appointed alternate member of the Politburo and confirmed Administration Department director at the first meeting of the Party Central Committee after 17 years.
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North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
n politician and the brother-in-law of Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
. He is a leading figure in the North Korean government, and South Korean government officials and academic North Korea watchers suggested that he may have taken on de facto leadership over North Korea due to Kim Jong-il's ill health. Chang is currently Vice-Chairman of the National Defence Commission, a position considered second only to Kim Jong-Il.
He is concurrently director of the State Development Bank, director of the Taepung International Investment Group and director of the Taesong International Group.
Personal life
Chang was born in Kangwon-do. He graduated from the Kim Il-sung Senior High School before leaving for MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, where he studied abroad
International student
According to Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development , international students are those who travel to a country different from their own for the purpose of tertiary study. Despite that, the definition of international students varies in each country in accordance to their own national...
between 1968 and 1972. Upon his return, he married Kim Kyong-hui
Kim Kyong-hui
General Kim Kyong-hui is the daughter of Kim Il-sung and his first wife Kim Jong-suk, and the sister of the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-il. An important member of Kim Jong-il's inner circle of trusted friends and advisors, she has been director of the Light Industry Department of the Workers'...
, the younger sister of Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
. The couple had a daughter, Chang Kum-song (1977–2006), who lived overseas in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
as an international student
International student
According to Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development , international students are those who travel to a country different from their own for the purpose of tertiary study. Despite that, the definition of international students varies in each country in accordance to their own national...
; she refused an order to return to Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
and then committed suicide in September 2006, reportedly due to Chang and his wife Kim's opposition to her relationship with her boyfriend.
Career
Chang was formerly an instructor to the PyongyangPyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
Party Committee, and later the vice director of the Workers' Party of Korea
Workers' Party of Korea
The Workers' Party of Korea is the ruling Communist party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea. It is also called the Korean Workers' Party...
's Organisation and Guidance Department since 1982, being first assigned to youth policies and then to capital city construction. In 1989 he was co-opted in the WPK Central Committee
Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea is the leadership body of the Workers' Party of Korea. According to Party rules, the Central Committee directs the Party work between the Party Congresses...
as an alternate member, and promoted to full member in 1992, when he was also appointed first deputy director of the Organization and Guidance Department, with responsibility over security activities.
Chang had been identified by outside analysts as well as North Korean defector
North Korean defectors
A number of individuals have defected from North Korea. Since the division of Korea after World War II and the end of the Korean War , many people have defected from North Korea, mainly for political, ideological, religious and economic reasons...
Hwang Jang-yop
Hwang Jang-yop
Hwang Jang-yop was a major politician in North Korea who defected to South Korea in 1997, making him to date the highest-ranking defector from the isolated state. He was largely responsible for crafting the Juche Idea, North Korea's official state ideology.-Early life and career:Hwang was born in...
as a possible successor to Kim Jong-il; however, on 25 November 2004, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
's National Assembly
National Assembly of South Korea
The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea is a 299-member unicameral legislature. The latest general elections were held on April 9, 2008. Single-member constituencies comprise 245 of the National Assembly's seats, while the remaining 54 are allocated by proportional representation...
heard testimony that he had been purged from his position.
He re-emerged in March 2006, accompanying Kim Jong-il on an official visit to China. In October 2007, the Korean Central News Agency
Korean Central News Agency
The Korean Central News Agency is the state news agency of North Korea and has existed since December 5, 1946. KCNA is headquartered in the capital city of Pyongyang...
confirmed that Chang had been promoted to the newly recreated post of first vice-director of the Workers' Party of Korea, with oversight responsibility for the police, judiciary, and other areas of internal security; Jang attended South Korean president
President of South Korea
The President of the Republic of Korea is, according to the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, chief executive of the government, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and the head of state of the Republic of Korea...
Roh Moo-hyun
Roh Moo-hyun
Roh Moo-hyun GOM GCB was the 16th President of South Korea .Roh's pre-presidential political career was focused on human rights advocacy for student activists in South Korea. His electoral career later expanded to a focus on overcoming regionalism in South Korean politics, culminating in his...
's luncheon during the latter's visit to the North. It was later revealed that Chang had been actually appointed director of the Administration Department, an old agency of the Workers' Party abolished in 1990 and re-created by splitting the Organization Department.
Chang was elected to the powerful National Defence Commission
National Defence Commission of North Korea
The National Defense Commission of North Korea is defined by the 1998 constitution as “the highest guiding organ of the military and the managing organ of military matters.” The Chairman of the National Defense Commission controls the armed forces and, in this state where the military...
in April 2009; this was viewed as a signal that he could be a potential successor to Kim Jong-il.
In June 2010, in a session of the Supreme People's Assembly, Chang was elected as a vice-chairman of the National Defence Commission. The NDC is North Korea's de facto supreme decision making body. Thus Chang's promotion amounts to something of a executive deputy role, second only to Kim Jong-Il. It is speculated that the move was part of posturing to make Kim Jong-Il's son Kim Jong-un the next leader of North Korea. Chang's position in North Korean politics was also ostensibly boosted by the death of Ri Je-gang
Ri Je-gang
-Career:Ri studied at Kim Il-sung University. He was elevated to the Central Committee of the Korean Workers' Party in 1973 as director of the organisation bureau; Kim Jong-il's takeover of the bureau later that year set the stage for his friendship with Ri. He became a deputy chief of the same...
, a senior leader who was tipped by Kim Jong-il as a crucial overseer of the succession campaign.
Later, at the WPK Conference held in September
September
September is the 9th month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of four months with a length of 30 days.September in the Southern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of March in the Northern Hemisphere....
2010, he was appointed alternate member of the Politburo and confirmed Administration Department director at the first meeting of the Party Central Committee after 17 years.
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