Shigemura likes to put out some wild stories. I don’t think he is credible. Kim Myong-chol is the regime’s mouth-piece in Japan.
In terms of Kim Myong-chol and his communist promotion center 'The Center for US-North Korea Peace' outfit, which sounds like an old Soviet commie front group to dupe know-it-all liberals.
Most likely within a few months the switch at the top will be made.