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북한 장성택 국방위원회 부위원장이 숙청당한 것과 관련해 여러가지 이유가 지목된 가운데, 김정은 노동당 제1비서 부인인 리설주와의 부적절한 관계 때문이라는 주장이 나오고 있다. 공교롭게도 리설주는 50일이 넘게 공개석상에 모습을 드러내지 않고 있다.
11일 일요시사는 한 북한 소식통의 말을 빌어 지난 8월 북한 예술단원들이 포르노 동영상을 찍고 유포시킨 혐의로 처형됐던 사건이 있었는데 당시 동영상에서 장성택과 리설주의 부적절한 관계가 발각됐다고 전했다.
이에 당에서는 극비리에 리설주를 집중 추궁했고 리설주는 결국 장성택과의 부적절한 관계를 자백했다고. 격노한 김정은은 주변의 만류에도 불구하고 고모부인 장성택의 숙청을 강하게 밀어붙였다는 것이다.
앞서 북한은 장성택의 실각에 대해 “여러 여성들과 부당한 관계를 갖고, 고급 식당 뒷방에서 술놀이와 먹자판을 벌이는 등 타락한 생활을 했다”고 공식적으로 밝힌 바 있다.
그러나 리설주와 장성택의 나이 차이가 매우 많다는 점, 이전까지 두 사람간의 접점이 많지 않았다는 점과 폐쇄된 북한의 특성상 소식통의 말에 의존해야 한다는 점 때문에 이와 같은 소문은 신뢰성이 높지 않은 것으로 보인다.
한편 그 외에도 장성택이 이미 처형됐다는 소문, 그가 김정은 대신 김정남을 추대하려고 했다는 소문 등이 인터넷 상으로 떠돈바 있다.
<관련 영문 기사>
Rumors flying over downfall of N.Korea’s No.2
In light of Jang Song-thaek -- the once-powerful uncle of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un -- being dismissed from all posts, rumors are sprouting over the fall of the hermit kingdom’s former No.2.
On Tuesday, The Herald Business newspaper reported that Jang had attempted to overthrow the youthful leader in order to hoist Kim’s elder half-brother Jong-nam as the new leader. The newspaper, citing sources, said that Jang and the North Korea leader had frequent disagreements over foreign relations and economic reforms.
The source said alleged treason may be the reason why Kim chose to publicly humiliate his uncle by broadcasting his arrest on Monday.
Other rumors, such as one about Jang’s possible execution, popped up as South Koreans struggled to comprehend such a rapid shift in power dynamics among their northern neighbors.
The most shocking and perhaps the most far-fetched of all these rumors were delivered by Wednesday by a local weekly tabloid, which claimed that Jang was purged because of his extramarital affairs with Kim Jong-un’s wife Ri Sol-ju.
Ilyo Sisa, citing sources, claimed Ri’s supposed affair with Jang was revealed in August. This infuriated Kim and led him to purge his uncle, the paper claimed. It pointed out that “womanizing” was cited by Pyongyang as one of the reasons it removed Jang from his posts.
The tabloid, however, did not offer any proof behind its claims. Seoul has yet to comment on any of the rumors on why Jang, once so prominent, has lost all his powers.
(minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)
Rumors flying over downfall of N.Korea’s No.2
In light of Jang Song-thaek -- the once-powerful uncle of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un -- being dismissed from all posts, rumors are sprouting over the fall of the hermit kingdom’s former No.2.
On Tuesday, The Herald Business newspaper reported that Jang had attempted to overthrow the youthful leader in order to hoist Kim’s elder half-brother Jong-nam as the new leader. The newspaper, citing sources, said that Jang and the North Korea leader had frequent disagreements over foreign relations and economic reforms.
The source said alleged treason may be the reason why Kim chose to publicly humiliate his uncle by broadcasting his arrest on Monday.
Other rumors, such as one about Jang’s possible execution, popped up as South Koreans struggled to comprehend such a rapid shift in power dynamics among their northern neighbors.
The most shocking and perhaps the most far-fetched of all these rumors were delivered by Wednesday by a local weekly tabloid, which claimed that Jang was purged because of his extramarital affairs with Kim Jong-un’s wife Ri Sol-ju.
Ilyo Sisa, citing sources, claimed Ri’s supposed affair with Jang was revealed in August. This infuriated Kim and led him to purge his uncle, the paper claimed. It pointed out that “womanizing” was cited by Pyongyang as one of the reasons it removed Jang from his posts.
The tabloid, however, did not offer any proof behind its claims. Seoul has yet to comment on any of the rumors on why Jang, once so prominent, has lost all his powers.
(minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)
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