North Koreans check publicly displayed newspaper on newly appointed officials

Published November 17, 2014

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea's main newspaper printed photographs and biographical details Tuesday of senior officials appointed a day earlier at a rare parliamentary session.

The brother-in-law of leader Kim Jong Il was promoted to a key position in the secretive nation's leadership and a new premier was named Monday.

North Koreans looked at the Rodong Sinmun newspaper on display stands in Pyongyang, according to exclusive footage from broadcaster APTN in Pyongyang. The front page featured a large photo of Kim Jong Il and other senior officials presiding over Monday's parliamentary session.

The reclusive Kim is believed to have suffered a stroke two years ago.

Inside pages contained photos of the country's new premier, Choe Yong Rim, and of Kim Jong Il's brother-in-law, Jang Song Thaek. Jang was newly appointed as a vice chairman of the powerful National Defense Commission, which makes security policy. Kim Jong Il is the chairman.

Jang, married to Kim's younger sister, is widely believed to be a key backer of the North Korean leader's third son, Kim Jong Un. South Korean media reports and analysts think Jong Un will be his father's eventual successor. Jang, meanwhile, is seen as possibly leading a collective leadership in the event of Kim's death until a successor takes over.

Jang already had immense power as the head of intelligence and as political overlord of the prosecutor's office, police and courts.

The newspaper also published photos and brief biographical details of six other high-level appointments of vice premiers and ministers.

Rodong Sinmun, the official organ of the ruling Workers Party, is not sold at newsstands in Pyongyang, like newspapers in other countries.

It appears on a limited number of display stands on the streets, and in subway stations and is distributed to offices and other workplaces.

Pyongyang citizens declined to comment on camera Tuesday morning about the new leadership announcements.

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/world/north-koreans-check-publicly-displayed-newspaper-on-newly-appointed-officials