Party department wields power in N. Korea

It has been known that the Organization Guidance Department of North Korea`s ruling Workers` Party has become the top power organ over the party, the government and the military of the communist state under the rule of Kim Jong Un. The department, which won in a power struggle with the party`s administrative department by leading the process of the execution of Jang Song Thaek, Kim`s once powerful uncle-in-law, in December last year, successfully asked the leader to appoint his younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, as its vice director.

As the department takes control over all major power agencies and wields absolute power over political issues such as policy-making and personnel appointments, some North Korea experts even say that the department is puppeteering Kim Jong Un.

A well-informed source on North Korea said Wednesday that the Organization Guidance Department took power by putting its senior officials on key posts, establishing a collective power system.

It has been known that although Kim Jong Un initially did not intend to execute his uncle-in-law, he ended up doing so following a strong recommendation from the department. Reportedly, Kim approved investigations and punishment of Jang after winning his aunt`s agreement, thinking that Jang had not done anything gravely wrong. However, Kim ordered Jang`s execution after he made confessions about his "crimes," succumbing to tortures by the department and the State Security Department.