Kim Jong Il's Sucessor

[Merlin]

There is finally some news of his intended sucessor. I think this still have to go through their Parliament. This may be why we see the intensive show of military strengh through the nuclear bomb and missiles tests.

N.Korea's Kim anoints youngest son as heir-report

SEOUL, June 2 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has asked his country's overseas missions to pledge loyalty to his youngest son, signalling he has been anointed as next leader of the communist dynasty, a newspaper report said on Tuesday.

Kim, 67, is thought to have suffered a stroke in August. Analysts have said the North's recent military actions, including a nuclear test last week, may be aimed at helping him solidify power so that he can name a successor. ...

"It has been confirmed through various channels that North Korea sent emails to legations overseas, asking them to pledge their loyalty to (youngest son) Kim Jong-un," the South Korean daily Dong-A Ilbo reported an "informed source" as saying.

Analysts have said succession is one of the most closely guarded secrets in the highly secretive North, with Kim's plans only known to his small inner circle.

The paper quoted another informed source as saying: "North Korean leadership is educating senior officials at major security authorities with an emphasis on the justification of father-to-son succession over three generations."

The sources concluded these signs pointed to Jong-un being officially anointed.

Kim Jong-il, groomed for decades to take over the country from his father and state founder Kim Il-sung, has three sons but they are unknown to most North Koreans.

Jong-un, born either in 1983 or early 1984, was educated in Switzerland and intelligence sources have said he appears to be the most capable of the three. ...

[Merlin]

This news source from S Korea has a bit more details.

Kim chooses third son as heir

2 Jun [JoongAng] North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, who has heightened tensions in the region with a nuclear test, missile launches and military threats, has reportedly tapped third son Kim Jong-un as his successor, intelligence sources say.

A source privy to North Korean affairs told the JoongAng Ilbo that the country’s leadership circle decided that it urgently needed to name a successor after Kim Jong-il’s stroke last year.

“Kim Jong-un, 26, is the chosen one,” the source said.

Experts have linked the North’s recent nuclear test to the issue of succession, saying it was an attempt to show solidarity with the military, whose support is essential for the smooth transition of power in Pyongyang.

Another source said there have been some changes to the country’s chain of command as the junior Kim emerged as the likely successor. According to that source, officials such as O Kuk-ryol, vice chairman of the National Defense Commission; Kim Yong-chun, minister of the People’s Armed Forces; and Choe Ik-gyu, head of the Propaganda and Agitation Department at the ruling Workers’ Party, have led efforts to make Kim Jong-un the next leader of the country. ...

[Tarek Morgen]

Has he any chance to last after his fathers dead?

[Skywatcher]

It depends on how long Kim the second lasts. If he goes on for another decade and maybe a half, it's possible he might stay around as the figurehead if nothing else. If KJI dropped dead now or within a few years, Jong Un would go down pretty quick, I reckon.

[Merlin]

There are still problems in getting him to be officially his successor partly because of his young age, 26. He was not put forward for election in the recent Parliament election, but was later given a mid level position.

Also it has been report by more than one source that he is a diabetic. (Incidentally, this is a recent trend. Young people including children can also get diabetes.)

[Merlin]

How long would this N Korea regime last is a different issue. This seems to depend increasingly on China. The latter is now not happy with N Korea's active proliferation of nuclear arms and missiles.

[Merlin]

The third son was already appointed defence chief. Now Secret Police Chief. Like the USSR days, this position is important for control of the Party.

Kim Gives Son Control of North Korea Secret Police, Dong-A Says

June 24 (Bloomberg) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Il gave his youngest son control of the communist nation’s secret police, further evidence Kim Jong Un will succeed his father when he steps down, Dong-a Ilbo newspaper said.

The elder Kim told National Security Agency officials of the appointment during a visit in March and asked them to defend his son with their lives, the Seoul-based newspaper reported, without saying where it obtained the information.

The reclusive leader also provided the officials a total of five foreign-made luxury automobiles, each worth about $80,000, Dong-A said. The National Security Agency monitors activities and ideological beliefs of North Koreans, the report said. ...

[Traps]

Well it may be premature because if the Dear Leader carries on the way he is going, the next Premier will be the one who is elected to head Korea.

N Korea threatens USA ; Missile launch anticipated : RICHMARK SENTINEL

[Dreadnought]

Kims successor will inherit a virtual bees nest thats already isolated by many countries. As far as their missle threats? He's playing a very stupid dangerous game with the wrong nation and no doubt he will be shown to be on the loosing end of the deal but ofcoarse will lie his face off as usual to his people and the NK propaghanda machine. Funny thing is if infact he ignites another conflict its doubtfull the line we never crossed will remain as a boundary.;)

[SRB]

Happy family

[chakos]

Happy family

Christ they all have faces like a smacked arse... You would think he could score himself a hotter wife too considering he can take his pic of pretty much any woman in that place.

Maybe he should take a few pointers off the froggy midget Sarkozy :))

[Merlin]

.. Maybe he should take a few pointers off the froggy midget Sarkozy :))

How do you know he hasn't already got ideas from Italy's Berlusconi.

[chakos]

How do you know he hasn't already got ideas from Italy's Berlusconi.

Because Berlusconi has infinatelly better taste than what you see above...

[Merlin]

How do you know he hasn't already got ideas from Italy's Berlusconi.

I think I need to elaborate on this.

Escort Patrizia D'Addario says Berlusconi party was ‘like harem’

25 June [Times] Silvio Berlusconi faced mounting pressure to come clean about his private life yesterday after revelations that he entertained about 20 women, including two lesbian escort girls, until dawn during a private party at his house in Rome.

Patrizia D’Addario, the Bari prostitute who claims to have recorded footage that proves her encounters with the Prime Minister, gave more details of her first meeting with Mr Berlusconi, saying: “It felt like a harem. And there was only one sheikh. Him.” ....

[chakos]

I think I need to elaborate on this.

Escort Patrizia D'Addario says Berlusconi party was ‘like harem’

Whos da man