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The top U.S. military commander in Korea has painted a vivid picture of the man in charge
of North Korea. In wide-ranging comments on North Korea made
to the U.S. Senate Armed Forces Committee, General Curtis Scaparrotti said Kim Jong-un
is unpredictable, more dangerous than his father and fully in charge of his regime.
Sohn Jung-in has more. The Commander of U.S. Forces Korea, General Curtis Scaparrotti,
says there's no doubt in his mind that Kim Jong-un is the one wielding the real power
in North Korea.
Speaking before the Senate Armed Forces Committee on the defense budget for 2015,... General
Scaparrotti said "Kim Jong-un appointed himself as the supreme leader through the constitution,"
and that Kim was fully in charge.
He added that Kim Jong-un is also less predictable than his father, former leader Kim Jong-il,...
and therefore poses a greater threat.
On the execution of Jang Song-thaek, the general said he believed Kim Jong-un planned it out
to show off his power, and that it was not an indication of instability in the country.
He said China was disappointed by the execution, but that Kim was an independent actor with
a mind of his own, and would likely go his own way, regardless of what Bejing thinks
or says.
When asked whether he agreed with the assessment that North Korea is on pace to develop a long-range
ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland by 2024, General Scaparrotti
said yes. He said, the communist nation possesses SCUD
missiles that are able to strike the entire Korean peninsula and U.S. bases in Japan,...
and added that it is investing heavily in longer-range missiles with the potential to
target the U.S.
The general pointed out that in particular, Kim Jong-un was planning a threat strategy
so that his regime can maintain power in the long-run.
Sohn Jung-in, Arirang News.