Special to WorldTribune.com

By Lee Jong-Heon, East-Asia-Intel.com

SEOUL — North Korea’s Premier Pak Pong-Ju is leading a nation-wide campaign to revive its troubled economy instead of Jang Song-Thaek who was purged and executed for “treason” and business connections with China.

“Following Jang’s downfall, Pak who is leading the Cabinet has emerged as the control tower of the economy with (the country’s leader) Kim Jong-Un struggling to show economic achievements to the people,” a government source here said.

“Pak’s status has recently been upgraded as seen in recent media reports of the North,” he said.

When a group of North Korean senior officials gathered at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on Jan. 1 and paid respects to the country’s late two former leaders, Pak was standing one step ahead of the other officials, including Choe Ryong-Hae, considered as the country’s No. 2 man following Jang’s fall from power.

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  Choe Ryong-Hae, Jang Song-Thaek, Kim Jong-Un, N. Korea’s reform-minded premier replaces Jang as economic chief, Pak Pong-Ju, Ri Sol-Ju