【英语国际】朝鲜高层人事变动 金正日妹夫升迁

The brother-in-law of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il was promoted yesterday by the country's parliament to a key defence role as part of a leadership reshuffle that analysts said appeared to be aimed at ensuring a smooth transition of power from Mr Kim to his third-son, Kim Jong-eun.

The reshuffle, unveiled at a rare second annual parliamentary session, saw Kim Yong-il, North Korea's prime minister, the man in charge of economic policy, cast aside for what analysts interpreted as his oversight of last year's failed currency revaluation. Also replaced were three of the country's vice premiers, according to state media.

The moves come as Pyongyang faces mounting tensions with South Korea after Seoul blamed the communist regime for torpedoing the navy warship Cheonan, killing 46 sailors. North Korea denies responsibility for the attack.

Kim Jong-il attended the parliamentary session personally to promote Chang Sung-taek, his brother-in-law, to vice chairman of the National Defence Commission, North Korea's highest military body.

Analysts said the shake up was also intended to allow a successful transfer of power from Mr Kim, who suffered a stroke in 2008, to his third son. Chang Sung-taek is known as one of Mr Kim's closest allies backing the succession.

“Mr Chang is likely to oversee the power succession to the third generation of the Kim dynasty. He may play a role as an interim leader, paving the way for Jong-eun to finally succeed his father,” said Kim Yong-hyun, professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk university in Seoul.

He said the appointments were also meant to rally North Koreans behind the communist regime to stave off rising external pressure.

Last week South Korea asked the UN Security Council to censure Pyongyang, which in turn threatened to retaliate over the “intolerable provocation”.

The outgoing premier was replaced by Choe Yong-rim, a senior official of the ruling party, who analysts expect to try to revive the economy by strengthening ties with China.

Kim Jong-il did not attend the parliament's previous one-day meeting earlier this year.

Analysts expect him to try to accelerate reform of the moribund economy and attract foreign investment after his recent visit to China. Pyongyang is seeking Chinese investment in the port of Rajin, in north-east North Korea.

Already suffering from crippling power and food shortages, North Korea bungled its currency reform last year, which triggered sharp inflation, closed food markets and sparked extremely unusual flashes of popular discontent.

朝鲜领导人金正日的妹夫昨日得到该国议会的提拔，升任重要的国防职务，这是朝鲜领导层人事变动的一部分。分析人士表示，此轮人事变动似乎意在确保金正日向第三个儿子金正云平稳移交权力。

此轮人事变动是在罕见的第二次年度议会会议上公布的。负责经济政策的朝鲜总理金英日被免除职务；分析人士的解读是，原因是去年搞砸的货币改革是在他主持工作期间发生的。据官方媒体报道，还有三名副总理易人。

朝鲜高层人事变动之际，朝韩之间的紧张局势日益升级。此前首尔方面指责朝方发射鱼雷，击沉韩国“天安”舰，导致46名水兵丧生。朝鲜否认对这起攻击事件负责。

金正日亲自出席了议会会议，以提升他的妹夫张成泽担任国防委员会副委员长；国防委员会是朝鲜的最高军事机构。

分析人士表示，此轮人事变动的目的还包括，让曾经在2008年中风的金正日向第三个儿子成功移交权力。据悉，张成泽是金正日的最亲密盟友，支持由金正云接班。

“张成泽可能负责监督权力向金氏王朝第三代转移。他可能扮演过渡领导人的角色，为金正云最终接父亲的班铺平道路，”首尔东国大学(Dongguk University)朝鲜学教授金容铉(Kim Yong-hyun)表示。

他说，这些任命还意在号召朝鲜人民团结在共产党政权周围，顶住不断上升的外来压力。

上周，韩国请求联合国安理会谴责平壤方面，而朝鲜反过来威胁称，将报复“不可容忍的挑衅”。

朝鲜的总理职务由执政党资深官员崔永林接任，分析人士预期，崔永林将通过加强与中国的联系，试图重振朝鲜经济。

金正日并未出席今年早些时候召开的为期一天的上一次议会会议。

分析人士预期，在近期访问中国后，金正日可能加快改革死气沉沉的朝鲜经济，吸引外资。平壤方面正争取中国对朝鲜东北部的罗津(Rajin)港投资。

朝鲜早已在遭受严重的电力和食品短缺，去年又搞砸了货币改革，引发通胀飙升、食品市场关闭，甚至引发极其罕见的民怨。

译者/和风