Power Struggle Underway In North Korea?

The 12th Supreme People's Assembly gives a standing ovation as North Korean leader Kim Jong-il enters the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang for its first session on April 9, 2009. /[North] Korean Central News Agency-Yonhap

Kim Jong-il's Key Ally Dies, Exposing Political Infighting Ahead Of Succession -- The Telegraph

A close political ally of Kim Jong-il has been killed in a car crash, exposing deep in-fighting in the North Korean regime ahead of plans to anoint Kim’s successor in Pyongyang.

Ri Je-Gang, the first vice director of the Central Committee of the Worker’s Party and widely seen as the strongman of the reclusive North Korean leader’s regime, died in a car crash shortly before 1 am on Wednesday morning, North Korean media reported on Sunday.

The death of Ri, who was 80, came just days before an unprecedented second session of the Supreme People’s Assembly, at which North Korean watchers had anticipated that the ailing Kim would formally name his inexperienced son, Kim Jong-un, 27, as his successor.

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My Comment: This is probably one of the reasons why the South Korean Government has been muted in their response to the sinking of one of their naval vessels from a North Korean attack. They see the infighting and have decided to be quiet about it, after all .... why become a rallying cry for the North Korean Government when the real goal is to see them fight amongst themselves .... thereby probably resulting in a deeply fractured and weakened government.

As to the death of Ri, coming just days before an unprecedented second session of the Supreme People’s Assembly .... talk about bad timing and (cough cough) coincidences.