• China's communists pick country's new leader

    China's ruling Communist Party has selected Xi Jinping as the country's new leader. Xi faces a faltering economy, environmental issues, demands for political reforms, as well as rampant corruption and public cynicism. NBC's Ian Williams reports.

    By Ed Flanagan, NBC News

    BEIJING – China’s ruling Communist Party on Thursday selected a new seven-person leadership group fronted by Xi Jinping that will lead the world’s second largest economy for at least the next five years.


    Xi, the newly selected party secretary, and his deputy, Li Keqiang -- the new members of the all-important Politburo Standing Committee -- take over a nation whose economy has quadrupled under the leadership of outgoing leader, Hu Jintao, but now faces serious environmental, political and social questions in the near future.

    For Xi though, this Standing Committee appears better poised to bring about much-needed reforms than that of his predecessor, Hu.

    China’s Communist Party of today governs by consensus. Long gone are the days of “Strong Man” politics where one man – a Mao Zedong or Deng Xiaoping – dictates policy for the country.

    This political evolution helped produce the stability that has ushered in unprecedented economic growth.

    Remarkably this week saw only the second peaceful leadership transition since the communists took power in 1949.

    David Gray / Reuters

    A customer stands with restaurant workers underneath a painting of Chinese characters that read "Long-lasting Prosperity", as they watch television showing the new leadership of China's ruling Communist Party.

    The new leadership committee announced Thursday represents a rare balance of differing political agendas and alliances.

    Men like Li Keqiang – probably the party’s best educated leader – and Wang Qishan – a strong voice for the opening up of China’s economy – are likely to be liberal voices for reform.

    Communist Party's Congress grinds on amid widespread indifference in China

    Where is China's Vice President? That's the question that can't be answered in Beijing. Even searching for the name of China's Vice President on Chinese social media has been blocked amid increasing rumors about his whereabouts. Xi Jinping has been missing from the public eye for more than week. ITV's Angus Walker reports.  

    Meanwhile Zhang Dejiang – the faithful party stalwart who took over for the deposed Bo Xilai – and Liu Yunshan – the long-time czar of the Communist Party’s Propaganda Department – represent strong conservative voices.

    The other two members, Zhang Gaoli and Yu Zhengsheng, both come from postings in Tianjin and Shanghai respectively and have shown signs of being centrists on issues.

    Ironically, it is the new Party Secretary and soon-to-be President, Xi Jinping, who is the greatest mystery – a veritable political cipher.

    While the candidates are scrutinized and skewered by the media in the U.S., China's new leader Xi Jinping remains a man of mystery among his citizens. NBC's Ian Williams reports

    Yawns and other expressions of boredom as China's Communist Party Congress begins

    But that now seems to be the path to the top position in China: The less known about you politically, the greater the chance of promotion.

    There have been some questions raised about the various appointments that came out Thursday.

    Outgoing President Hu Jintao’s decision to give up his seat on the important Central Military Commission was either a magnanimous demonstration of statesmanship on the part of Hu -- who had to wait two years until his predecessor, Jiang Zemin, gave up the post -- or a resounding defeat as Hu's important political allies did not appear to have made the final seven of the standing committee.

    Embassy ballots give Chinese a glimpse of democracy ahead of power transfer

    Another intriguing development was the appointment of Wang Qishan to the Communist Party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

    Wang has garnered a reputation as an effective “fireman” on sensitive issues affecting the party and in recent years has served as a capable counterpart to U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.

    But, at a time when serious economic concerns regarding the stalling of market reforms and the rise again of centrally planned, state-owned enterprises in China have plagued Beijing, it is a curious move to shift Wang, the strongest voice for economic reform in the party.

    His shift to the top disciplinary position in the party means Wang will be able to bring about positive economic development by attacking a larger issue plaguing both party and country: corruption.

    As China’s economy continues to develop in size and sophistication, the need for better standards of practice economically and politically have slowly started to manifest itself.

    There is some optimism now that with a reformer like Wang in place, there will eventually be the political will at the highest levels to bring about a serious reckoning on systemic corruption at both national and local levels across the country. 

    More world stories from NBC News:

    Follow World News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

     

  • North Korea military chief, ally of new leader, relieved of duty

    Kcna Via Kns / AFP - Getty Images

    North Korea's military chief of staff Ri Yong Ho is shown earlier this year.

    By msnbc.com staff and news services

    SEOUL -- North Korea's military chief, a close ally of the reclusive state's new leader Kim Jong Un, has been relieved of all his posts due to illness, the country's official news media said on Monday.

    Ri Yong Ho was relieved of all his political posts in the ruling Workers' Party Korea at a politburo meeting on Sunday, including a powerful position as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, North Korea's official KCNA news agency said. 

    Ri, 70, is a career military man who held the rank of vice-marshal, according to South Korean government database.

    Ri has been a prominent member of new leader Kim's circle of close political allies. Kim took power after his father Kim Jong-il died last December.


    It was not clear who would succeed Ri. North Korea didn't elaborate on Ri's condition or future.

    Ri has been at Kim Jong Un's side since the young man emerged as his father Kim Jong Il's successor in 2010, often standing between father and son at major events. That role appeared to deepen after Kim Jong Il's death in December, helping the younger Kim solidify support among the military.

    Ri wielded power from his position at the intersection of three crucial institutions: the Korean People's Army, the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party and the Standing Committee of the party's influential Political Bureau.

    North Korean mystery woman: A possible new first lady?

    Ri also oversaw an influential Kim Jong Un support group comprising officers in their 50s and 60s whom commanders consider rising stars, according to Ken Gause, a North Korea specialist at CNA, a U.S.-based research organization.

    Hong Hyun-ik, an analyst at private Sejong Institute near Seoul, was skeptical about the illness claim, saying that when top North Korean officials do get sick, they typically remain in office while deputies handle their duties. There had been no previous sign that Ri was ill, he added.

    Kyodo / Reuters file

    North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, exchanges smiles with the chief of general staff of the Korean People's Army Ri Yong Ho during a military parade in February. Yong was relieved of duties Sunday, the state's news agency reported.

    Hong said the change appears aimed at replacing an appointee of Kim's late father with a closer confidant.

    "It can be seen as part of a general change," Hong said, adding that he expects similar news on the dismissal of other aging, senior officials will come out in coming weeks.

    Animosity on the Korean Peninsula has deepened since a North Korean rocket launch in April that the U.N. called a cover for a banned long-range missile test. North Korea says it was a satellite launch.

    North Korea has repeatedly threatened harm to South Korea's president and his supporters in recent months, angry over perceived insults to its leadership and recent U.S.-South Korean military drills that Pyongyang says are a prelude to an invasion.

    This article includes reporting by Reuters and The Associated Press.

    When North Korea's new young leader spoke in public he surprised his own people and the world. Nothing like that had been seen or heard for years. Kim Jong Un's apparent openness was revolutionary, so too was his promise to end hunger. ITN's Angus Walker reports.

    More world news from msnbc.com and NBC News:

    Follow World News on msnbc.com on Twitter and Facebook