Succession Politics in North Korea: Implications for Policy and Political Stability
Author(s)
Jo, Yung-hwan
Abstract
North Korea on June 1, 1986, reconfirmed the status of Kim Jong-Il as heir apparent to his father, Kim Il-Sung. The Sixth Congress of the Korean Workers’ Party had legitimized this succession in 1980, establishing North Korea, in principle, as the first Communist dynasty. Whether or not the succession can be accomplished depends on timing, the strength of any contenders, and Kim Jong-Il’s skill in handling ideological and policy challenges to his succession.
