`NK commander who led Cheonan-Yeonpyeong attacks fired`

`NK commander who led Cheonan-Yeonpyeong attacks fired`. December. 27, 2011 07:21. will71@donga.com.

Kim Kyuk Sik (photo), commander of the 4th Corps of the Chosun People`s army, appears to have been fired, sources said Monday. He is known to be one of those who initiated last year`s attacks on the South Korean naval vessel Cheonan and Yeonpyeong Island.

A source said, “Kim must have been dismissed given all of the circumstances up to now." Another source said, “It seems that Kim has not yet been promoted at least."

Kim was not on the list of the funeral committee for Kim Jong Il announced Monday last week and has not yet visited the funeral site. South Korean intelligence, however, says the commander`s dismissal is not a soft approach gesture that North Korea wants to show to South Korea.

In February 2009, Kim Kyuk Sik was appointed commander of the corps governing Hwanghae Province and the Northern Limit Line in the Yellow Sea after serving as a chief of staff of the North Korean (Chosun) People`s Army. After the replacement of the corps commander last month, many rumors were milled over whether he was demoted or promoted to new supreme leader Kim Jong Un`s military adviser.

In the meantime, the official Workers` Party daily Rodong Shinmun said, "All party entities across the country support our great compatriot Kim Jong Un`s ideology and leadership. Let us safeguard the party`s central committee led by our respectful Kim Jong Un."

North Korean media covered stories on support for Kim Jong Un as head of the central committee and top military commander Sunday.

In North Korea, the leader is supposed to lead the people through the party. The succession will be complete only if Kim Jong Un becomes leader or general secretary of the party.

Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said, "This implies that Pyongyang will move fast to end the power succession process. Kim Jong Un will be appointed the party`s general secretary at the general assembly of the party`s central committee in the foreseeable future."