North Korean Succession and the WPK Conference

The Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), once one of North Korea's main political power centers, is set to hold a special conference Sept. 28. The meeting, which comes in the midst of growing speculation that leader Kim Jong Il will soon hand leadership to his youngest son, Kim Jong Un, may signify the re-equalization of power between the WPK and the military, as well as economic reforms that may begin the integration of Pyongyang into the international community.