Former North Korean terrorist Kim Hyun-hui has said that Pyongyang’s recent bellicose rhetoric is due to its young leader’s desire to impress his countrymen.

Kim, 51, said in an interview with Australia’s ABC news that Kim Jong-un was stepping up threats against South Korea and the United States to solidify his place as the leader of the communist country.

The dictator, according to Kim, is “struggling to gain complete control of the military and win their loyalty.” Kim Jong-un is too young and inexperienced and has yet to retain firm support of his lieutenants.

She explained this is why the young dictator is frequently paying visits to military bases.

Kim said that Kim Jong-un is also using North Korea’s nuclear program as a bargaining chip to get foreign aid to keep his people behind him.

North Korea has recently ratcheted up provocations against Seoul and Washington, and is widely believed to be preparing a missile test.

Kim Hyun-hui is a former North Korean agent responsible for the 1987 bombing of Korean Air 858, which killed 115 people. She was given the death penalty for the attack, but was granted a special pardon in 1990 by then-president Roh Tae-woo.

Kim is currently living in Seoul as a housewife.



From news reports
(khnews@heraldcorp.com)