Where it counts at the Politburo Standing Committee, the Central Military Commission, and the Leading Group on Foreign Affairs there is still strong support for the Kim family, despite its potentially destructive antics.

FORBES: China Helped North Korea Target American Cities

On September 18th, Qiao Shi, the head of China's parliament, was among a number of Deng-era veterans who were not elected to the new Central Committee, hence losing his seat on the all-powerful standing committee of the Politburo.

ECONOMIST: Out of the shadow of Deng

Mr Zeng is a front-runner for promotion to the Politburo's standing committee as well as to a senior post in the Central Military Commission after this year's congress.

ECONOMIST: Colour me grey