Does North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Un In Trouble With His 'Hardliners'?

The devil may be in the detail. South Korean president Moon Jae-in (r) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at a banquet in Panmunjom on April 27, 2018. Photo: AFP/Inter-Korean Summit Pool

Stephen Bryen, Asia Times: Is Kim Jong-un in trouble?

With his country's future tied to its nuclear weapons program, some diplomats think hardliners in the North are uneasy about any upcoming deals.

Word is going around some Asian diplomatic posts that Kim Jong-un is in trouble at home and that is why he appears to be putting the brakes on the upcoming proposed summit meeting with President Trump in Singapore.

These diplomats think the trouble is coming from regime hardliners who allegedly see North Korea’s future security tied to its nuclear weapons program.

That is not an illogical thought. North Korea is a poor country, with a gross domestic product of about $17.4 billion and only 3% of the country’s roads are paved. In 2014 the gross domestic income per capita was about $1,800, but this does not mean that the country’s meager resources pan out as a viable if extremely low income for everyone.

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WNU Editor: The above commentary was posted before President Trump cancelled the Singapore Summit .... but it still holds true today.  North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un is a hard-liner .... make no mistake about that. But in his government .... like any other authoritarian regime .... there are other factions that may differ on a policy issue or two. In this case .... any change in the status quo with South Korea will definitely change the position that many of these North Korean officials hold. Are they nervous with what is happening .... definitely. Does Kim Jong-Un have the means to convince these factions to toe his line on this policy .... we shall see. I do know one thing though .... this North Korean faction that helped position President Trump to cancel the Singapore Summit will need to be told to be more civil in their rhetoric if the peace process is to proceed .... 2 N. Korean diplomats behind US summit back-and-forth (FOX News)