SEOUL ¨C North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shares a family trait with his father and grandfather: a penchant for purges to hold onto absolute power.
Since the reclusive nuclear nation¡¯s founding in 1948, the Kims have eliminated people perceived as a threat to their cult of personality. Charges have ranged from spying for the U.S. to gossiping about a leader¡¯s mistress.
¡°North Korea¡¯s history is a history of purges,¡± Oh Gyeong Seob, a North Korea researcher at the Sejong Institute near Seoul, said by phone. ¡°And purges are increasing in frequency under Kim Jong Un. It¡¯s a sign he is resorting to the politics of fear to cope with his sense of insecurity.¡±
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.