Prospects for Resolving the North Korea Issue

Positive change was underway in North Korea.  The new leadership in Pyongyang, with Kim Jong-Un, the youngest son of Kim Jong-Il, at the helm, appeared to be pursuing a policy of guarded economic and political reforms.

The speed with which he replaced many of his father’s loyalists, including the Minister of State Security, the Chief of Staff of the Korean People’s Army (KPA), the Director of the General Political Department and the Minister of Defense of the KPA, in addition to other less prominent senior officials, was impressive.