Clinton Speculates on Power Struggle in Pyongyang

SEOUL, South Korea Feb. 19, 2009— -- A power struggle inside the secretive North Korean government may be responsible for the latest threats coming out of Pyongyang, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said today.

The secretary of state openly speculated about the instability in North Korea's government with reporters on her plane before landing in Seoul, South Korea for the third of four stops on her trip to Asia.

America's top diplomat arrived as tensions have flared between the longtime adversaries of North and South Korea.

"Everybody is trying to sort of read the tea leaves as to what is happening and what is likely to occur, and there is a lot of guessing going on," Clinton said.

The secretary of state suggested a succession crisis in the impoverished communist country may be responsible for North Korea holding up the Six Party talks on denuclearization, and for its ratcheting up its bellicose rhetoric toward its neighbors.

Intelligence reports suggest North Korea is readying a long-range missile test, an act sure to raise concern in the region.

North Korea's reclusive leader, Kim Jong Il, has been rumored ill in recent months, possibly suffering a stroke last year. Exactly who might replace him is a mystery and, according to Clinton, a possible source of instability in the country.

Kim, 67, inherited leadership from his father, North Korea founder Kim Il Sung, in 1994, creating the world's first communist dynasty.

Kim Jong Il is believed to have at least three sons: Kim Jong Nam, in his late 30s; Kim Jong Chul, in his late 20s; and Kim Jong Un, a son in his mid-20s by a separate mother.

The eldest is believed to have been the favorite to succeed his father until he was caught trying to enter Japan on a fake passport in 2001, reportedly to visit Tokyo Disneyland.

Last month, South Korean news agency Yonhap said the youngest, Kim Jong Un, was named Kim's heir apparent.

Clinton said that in her meetings in Seoul she'll look to tamp down tensions between North and South Korea, which are still technically at war more than 50 years after an armistice halted fighting there. In recent weeks North Korea has increased its hostile rhetoric towards South Korea.

Clinton Doesn't Want Tensions to "Spiral Up"

Clinton said "we don't want it to spiral up" and said she would encourage the South Koreans how to "not take the bait" from North Korea that could sparking renewed conflict on the Korean Peninsula.

"We are in one of those periods where there is threatening talk coming from the North and we will have to try to figure out how to deal with them going forward," Clinton told reporters on the plane.

Clinton has said the U.S. remains committed to the Six Party talks as a means to rid North Korea of its nuclear program, but exactly how the Obama administration plans to approach the talks appears to remain under review.

"Our goal is to try to come up with a strategy that is effective in influencing the behavior of the North Koreans at a time when the whole leadership situation is somewhat unclear," she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.