North Korea names Kim clan associate to premiership
Source: Reuters
(Reuters) - North Korea named former premier Pak Pong-ju, a key confidant of the leadership dynasty who was sacked in 2007 for failing to implement economic reforms, as its cabinet chief on Monday in a move that would further cement the ruling family's grip on power.
Pak, believed to be in his 70s, is a key ally of Jang Song-thaek, the uncle of the isolated state's young ruler Kim Jong-un, and worked for Jang's wife, Kim's aunt Kyong-hui, the last remaining personal link to the state's revolutionary founder, Kim Il-sung, grandfather of the current leader.
"At the session, Deputy Choe Yong-rim was recalled from the post of premier of the DPRK Cabinet and Deputy Pak Pong-ju was elected premier of the DPRK Cabinet," state news agency KCNA said, referring to a meeting of the rubber-stamp parliament.
DPRK is short for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the move came as tensions ratcheted higher on the Korean peninsula as Pyongyang threatened war and the United States flew in Stealth bombers.
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/01/us-korea-north-premier-idUSBRE93008820130401
