Kim Jong-il conducted several purges of high-ranking government officials before his death to aid the power transfer to his son Kim Jong-un, senior Thai journalists claimed in a book on North Korea.

According to the book, entitled “Unveiling North Korea’s Leaders” and published in March, senior international affairs journalists from the Thai daily Kom Chad Luek and the business daily Krungthep Turakij, the late former leader of North Korea purged ranking officials in order to remove obstacles hampering the third generation power transfer to his son.

In the introduction, the chief editor of Kom Chad Luek’s international affairs desk says that although Western countries regard North Korea as foolish, it cannot be determined whether its leaders really are fools or are just pretending to be.

The book also projected that North Korea will not give up its nuclear ambitions as related factors were its only bargaining tool, and that Pyongyang will continue to rely heavily on China. The authors also say that although Kim Jong-un is imitating his father, he is young and has almost no political experience.

Regarding footage of citizens mourning Kim Jong-il’s death last year, the authors claim that the scenes were choreographed and that they do not reflect the real feelings of the North Korean public.

The book, which is divided into three chapters ― “New dawn after the fall of a star,” “Building a strong and prosperous country” and “Waning sun” ― also provides descriptions of North Korean society.

The authors say that only a shell of the North Korean economy remains and that several million civilians starved to death while Kim Jong-il lived in luxury.

The authors also say that North Korean defectors are hoping for change in North Korea and unification of the peninsula since the death of Kim Jong-il.

By Choi He-suk  (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)