NORTH KOREA. Jang Song-taek, the shadow man

No mercy , even for the family. The young North Korean dictator , Kim Jong-un , have executed his uncle by marriage , the influential Jang Song- taek , considered the number two of the regime. His crime : plotting a conspiracy to overthrow the government . Message: anyone who opposes Kim Jong-un will suffer the same punishment as important and even close it .

Public disgrace was his arrest photographed and televised announcement of his death. Strange paradox for a man accustomed backstage maneuvering and in the shadow of North Korean leaders . Insofar as there is nothing to know the truth in the most opaque in the world, many theories exist to justify the cleaning head of the State : a disagreement with the military rivalries , political disagreement .. . " The truth may be much simpler: there has always been purges in the history of a communist state or a communist party-state leaders these totalitarian countries are still shying away from those who might . willing to share power with them . Such was the case with Stalin Kamenev , Zinoviev, Trotsky , where Khrushchev and Bulganin, Kaganovich and with the case of Mao ... "recalls Pierre Rigoulot connoisseur of the country director the journal " history and Freedoms ," and Institute of Social History . " In North Korea , we are facing both cyclical interpretations and a kind of systemic marker. Number 1 has such a representative instead of monolithic power that gets rid of anyone who might want to share power with he . " Ambitious , Jang Song- taek ?

Dismissed several times


If the man has always been in the shadows, he was known for being the husband of the sister of Kim Jong-il and vice president of the National Defense Commission , considered the body 's most powerful decision the country. Chosen to accompany the young Kim Jong-un in the transition from dynasty, he appeared in the media alongside the leader several times.

He had extended its influence after the stroke of Kim Jong-il in 2008, then his death three years later. Yet it is a frequent purges : he was dismissed from politics at least twice, in 1978 and 2003. He has always managed to come back through the front door to important positions . Except under Kim Jong-un .

Is this ideology mentor who has displeased you? " Uncle has the reputation of being a reformist ' , although North Korea that does not go very far because it is not possible. He was seen as someone who looked a bit more frequently side of China's reforms as its predecessors it may have been the victim of conservative regime , "said Pierre Rigoulot before continuing ." This was a person who can say she wanted to do a little move the simple lines of the same political renewal in North Korea was . not quite his cup of tea. "

Jang Song- taek was associated with attempts quite shy and never followed up economic reforms. " His influence has not shown by major reforms ," said Pierre Rigoulot , " but there was . There are two months, the North Korean authorities decided that in each of the provinces of the country, a company chosen have more autonomy in managing its people, products she would buy it and sell it. If it was not clearly signed Jang Song- taek , when we plan number and it is to assist the number to make decisions , we can easily imagine that he was behind the project. If he opposed , it would not have worked . "

"Man Chinese "

This tendency to look to its larger neighbor , he earned the nickname "Man Chinese " and was hoping for a liberalization . "It does not mean much in reality," explains Jean -Louis Margolin , historian and research professor at the University Aix -Marseille and a member of the Research Institute of Southeast Asia in Marseille. "You can be attracted to the Chinese model but then to be directly linked to the ruling apparatus in China, there is a huge step ! "

Scripts he was directed to a message that Beijing has distanced himself face to its traditional ally ? Beijing loses it a man with whom she could discuss ? " China has long been mourning opportunities to walk North Korea right ," said Pierre Rigoulot . " Pyongyang has its own agenda , including the nuclearization which is a deterrent. It annoys Beijing who would like this area is quiet and conducive to Western and Japanese investment . But Chinese leaders do not have much room to maneuver , they can not turn off the taps for help and can not promote the fall of North Korea , which would result in serving the United States and South Korea .