What Xi’s Purge of Zhang Means for North Korea

Xi’s purge of his most trusted general highlights a structural contradiction of dictatorships: powerful number twos are ultimately expendable—signaling rising elite tension and a likely rift between Kim Jong Un and his number two, Choe Ryong Hae.

China recently purged two of its most senior military leaders, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, shocking observers around the world. Zhang’s removal was especially striking because of his lifelong relationship with Xi Jinping. Their fathers were revolutionary comrades, and the two grew up in overlapping elite Party circles. Zhang was widely seen as one of the few military figures Xi truly trusted.

This episode reveals a structural truth about one-party authoritarian systems: dictators cannot permanently tolerate a powerful number two—especially within the military. The problem is not personal trust but regime survival. A strong military figure inevitably becomes a potential alternative center of authority.

This same logic applies to North Korea.

Kim Jong Un’s most powerful lieutenant today is Choe Ryong Hae. Like Xi and Zhang, their relationship is rooted in revolutionary family ties and long political history. As discussed in “What Choe’s Power Network Means to the Fate of Kim Jong Un,” Choe’s expanding influence risks dividing power at the top of the regime, eroding the foundations of one-party rule.

Choe shows no sign of defiance on the surface. But the issue is structural, not personal. One-party dictatorships cannot coexist indefinitely with a powerful second figure. Kim has already demonstrated this logic when he executed his uncle Jang Song Thaek in 2013.

Xi’s purge sends a chilling message to Choe: even the most trusted number two is ultimately expendable.

In this sense, Xi’s purge is not just a Chinese story—it is a harbinger of what lies ahead for North Korea. Whatever happens, the unraveling of the Kim regime will likely accelerate.