Abstract
Abstract A leadership change in North Korea from father to son has not brought about any particular change in court politics. A sole exception, however, was the rise of the Korean People's Army (KPA) on Pyongyang's power ladder. The military elite have made substantial inroads into the key organs of the ruling apparatus. Kim Jong-il has ensured that the military be better off by granting special material benefits, and military personnel enjoy the highest material rewards in salaries, food rations, accommodations, cars, etc. Economic benefits aside, he has honored the military elite through a series of mass promotions of military generals. Meanwhile, the People's Army has emerged as a real power holder in Pyongyang. Aware of the potential danger, the regime has institutionalized a multiple chain of military command, aimed to build a check-and-balance mechanism to preempt any independent military actions. As long as Kim guarantees its vested interests, the KPA will continue to remain loyal to the leader, but if its vital interests are endangered it could rise up to protect itself. Likewise, if his grip on the army were to loosen he would not know if the military spearhead might pierce Southward—or into the palace. For a longer-term survival of the regime, therefore, it is imperative for Kim Jong-il to get off the back of the tiger.
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