[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] It was confirmed on the 17th that North Korea changed the English title of its head of state, Kim Jong-un, from 'Chairman,' which means chairman or committee head, to 'President,' which means president or head of state.
Kim Jong-un's grandfather, Kim Il-sung, also used the title President in English during his lifetime, effectively restoring the title.
On the 17th, the Korean Central News Agency reported in English that Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, paid tribute at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang to commemorate the birthday of his father, Kim Jong-il (the Day of the Shining Star), translating his title as 'president of the State Affairs.'
The agency used the English title 'chairman of the State Affairs Commission' for Kim Jong-un until the 22nd of last month but changed it starting from the 11th of this month.
Earlier, on the previous day, the National Intelligence Service also explained at the National Assembly Intelligence Committee that Kim Jong-un's English title had been changed internationally to 'President.'
This change by North Korea is evaluated as reflecting the reality that most countries use 'President' as the title for their head of state or government leader.
Not only democratic countries with presidents but also socialist allies such as China use 'President' as the English title for their head of state. The Russian president's English title is the same.
North Korea has recently shown signs of adopting common international expressions to build an image as a normal state.
A representative example is changing the name of the Ministry of People's Armed Forces, equivalent to the Ministry of National Defense in South Korea, to the Ministry of Defense.
This follows the general naming trends of foreign countries, including socialist countries like China and Russia.
Kim Jong-un holds the title of General Secretary of the Workers' Party in addition to Chairman of the State Affairs Commission. Since the leadership system is based on the Workers' Party, the General Secretary title takes precedence domestically, but external activities are conducted under the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission title.
In 2018, he signed the April 27 Panmunjom Declaration and the September 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration between South and North Korea, as well as the Singapore Joint Statement between North Korea and the United States, in his capacity as Chairman of the State Affairs Commission.
Xi Jinping is more often called General Secretary of the Communist Party domestically in China, but externally, the title President is commonly used.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
