North Korean Leadership Succession When Kim Jong-un Dies

North Korea's supreme leader, Kim Jong-un (Koreaherald)

JAKARTA - Santer circulated news that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un died after undergoing heart surgery some time ago. The hashtag #KIMJONGUNDEAD has also become a trending topic for citizens on Twitter.

As reported by the Washington Post, rumors have been circulating since the broadcast of Hong Kong Satellite Television (KHSTV) which reported the death of the man who was born on January 8, 1984. Not to mention the train believed to belong to the North Korean leader was shifting in the city of Wonsan, east of North Korea.

"We understand that Chairman Kim Jong Un has been in Wonsan for several weeks," said a South Korean official, whose identity was withheld, as quoted by VOI, Sunday, April 26.

Another rumor said that the death of Kim Jong-un was due to an operation error when placing a stent or ring in the cardiovascular space in the heart. However, media control makes information from the country difficult to verify.

Even the United States (US) and China are trying to find out the truth of the issue. The US is closely monitoring the movement of the situation in North Korea through satellite images. Meanwhile China sent a medical team in an effort to find out the truth of this very closed country.

The US and Chinese move came after speculation about Kim Jong Un's health, who for two weeks had not appeared in public. In fact, the 36-year-old did not even come to the commemoration of his grandfather Kim Il Sung, the founder of the regime - the most important day on North Korea's political calendar on April 15.

Kim Jong-un's replacement

If it is true that Kim Jong-un died, then North Korea will temporarily close down access to information and border areas from outside countries. Nobody would dare to convey an official statement about the health condition of the leader.

"If something really bad happens to Kim, North Korea will close its borders and foreign diplomats and journalists in Pyongyang will be closely watched," Professor Yang Moo-jin at the University of North Korean Studies was quoted as saying by the South China Morning Post.

Kim Jong Un (Twitter / @ hokkaido_sechol)

Even information related to Kim Jong-un's successor will be locked tight, until an indefinite time. Analysts say Kim Yo-jong's younger sister and loyalists can take over the chairmanship of a worthy successor.

However, when referring to North Korean patriarchal culture. So it is unlikely that Kim Yo-jung will succeed the throne of his brother's leadership in North Korea. Because in general those who continue the power are only given to biological sons.

"Kim Yo-jung is the second person in North Korea. He has a major power base with organizational control and departments of guidance, justice and public security," said Cho Han-bum of the Korean Institute for National Unification.

If not Kim Yo-jung, North Korea would still be led temporarily by senior politicians. This is reinforced by Choe Ryong Hoe, President of the People's Assembly of North Korea, who is said to be the strongest candidate to replace Kim Jong-un.

International observer and professor of international law at the University of Indonesia (UI) Hikmahanto Juwana predicts that in the future North Korea will be led by an oligarchy. This will also affect North Korea's relationship with South Korea and the United States in a negative direction.

"Currently there is a lot of speculation on who will be Kim Jong Un's successor. If the successor is more senior than Kim Jong Un, then the policy line is certainly different from Kim Jong Un's and affects North Korea's relationship with South Korea in a negative direction," said Hikmahanto, as quoted by era. .id.