3RD LD: N. Korea names new premier, reelects Kim to top post

Asian Political News, Sept 9, 2003

TOKYO, Sept. 3 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH ANNOUNCEMENT OF OTHER APPOINTMENTS)

North Korea's new legislature on Wednesday voted in Pak Pong Ju as the country's new prime minister and reelected Kim Jong Il as chairman of the National Defense Commission (NDC), the country's highest post of state, according to North Korean media monitored in Tokyo.

The 11th Supreme People's Assembly made Kim's reelection to a new five-year term as NDC chairman its first of order business since its 687 members were elected last month.

He is also general secretary of the ruling Workers Party of Korea and supreme commander of the armed forces.

North Korea's No. 2 leader and ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam was reelected as president of the assembly's presidium, while Yang Hyong Sop and Kim Yong Dae were kept on as its two vice presidents.

Jo Myong Rok, regarded as No. 3 in the hierarchy, was reelected as first vice chairman of the NDC, which oversees the world's fifth largest military force. He is also the director of the General Political Department of the Korean People's Army.

Ri Yong Mu retained his positions as one of the NDC's two vice chairmen while NDC member Yon Hyong Muk was elected as the other vice chairman in place of Kim Il Chol, who stayed on as an NDC member in a seeming demotion.

Choe Ryong Su and Paek Se Bong were elected as new NDC members, while Yon Hyong Muk, Ri Ul Sol, Paek Hak Rin and Kim Chol Man left the body.

Pak, who previously headed the Chemical Industry Ministry, replaced Hong Song Nam as premier.

Pak was quoted as telling the assembly that his cabinet would faithfully follow Kim Jong Il's directions and ''plan, organize and carry out all the work on the principle of giving priority to military affairs and make energetic efforts to strengthen the military power of the country and its overall national power.''

The new premier said he would also strive to ''radically improve the standard of the people's living'' and ''accelerate the historic cause of national reunification'' between North and South Korea.

Two out of three vice premiers left the cabinet, with Ro Tu Chol and Jon Sung Hun taking over from Jo Chang Dok and Sin Il Nam.

Five ministers were also replaced -- including Pak Nam Gi, who lost his post as chairman of the State Planning Commission to Kim Kwang Rin -- but Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun and Foreign Trade Minister Ri Kwang Gun retained their posts.

The official Korean Central News Agency said Kim Jong Il ''has performed immortal feats to be recorded in the history of the country forever and glorified the DPRK as the everlasting country of the great sun, chairman of the NDC of the DPRK, reflecting the unanimous will and desire of all the servicemen and the people.''

North Korea's formal name is the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

KCNA said Kim's reelection demonstrates the firm will of North Koreans ''to resolutely meet all challenges of the imperialists and reactionaries and foil their moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK, firmly defend the security of the country and the sovereignty of the nation and build a great prosperous powerful socialist country on the land without fail under the experienced and seasoned leadership of Kim Jong Il.''

The news agency reported that upon hearing the news of Kim's reelection, ''the entire Korean people including servicemen, old men and women and children are coming out of their houses and working sites and dancing with bunches of flowers in their hands.''

''Ringing out from the loudspeaker cars running through the streets are excited voices of announcers conveying the news of the great event, and songs eulogizing Kim Jong Il's exploits,'' it said.