UK & World News
- 29 December 2011, 12:15
Kim Jong-il's Son Declared 'Supreme Leader'
North Korea has declared Kim Jong-il's son and successor "supreme leader" in the government's first public endorsement of his rule.
Kim Jong-un stood on a balcony at the Grand People's Study House overlooking Kim Il Sung Square watching the second day of funeral ceremonies for his late father.
He was flanked by top party and military officials, including Kim Jong-il's younger sister, Kim Kyong Hui, and her husband Jang Song Thaek, who are expected to serve as mentors of their young nephew.
Given Kim Jong-un's inexperience and age - he is in his late 20s - there are questions outside North Korea about whether he is capable of leading a nation engaged in long-stalled negotiations over its nuclear programme and grappling with economic hardship and chronic food shortages.
"The fact that he completely resolved the succession matter is great comrade Kim Jong-il most noble achievement," Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, told the large audience at the square.
"Respected comrade Kim Jong-un is our party, military and country's supreme leader who inherits great comrade Kim Jong Il's ideology, leadership, character, virtues, grit and courage," added Kim Yong Nam, considered North Korea's ceremonial head of state.
Kim Jong-il, who led his 24 million people with absolute power for 17 years, died of a heart attack on December 17 aged 69 years old, according to state media.
He inherited power from his father, North Korea founder Kim Il Sung, who died of a heart attack in 1994, in what was the communist world's first hereditary succession.
Following Kim Jong-il's death, attention turned to Kim Jong-un who was revealed last year as his father's choice among three known sons to carry the Kim dynasty into a third generation.
Kim Jong-il held three main positions: chairman of the National Defence Commission, general secretary of the Workers' Party and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army.
Kim Jong-un's leadership is not expected to become official until top party, parliamentary and government representatives convene to confirm his ascension.
what do you think?
Edgar Beckett
One thing you can say in his favour, he seems to have had a better education than Little Johnnie Major, more experience than Big Tony and his antecedents are definately better than those of Barack Obama.
stevie may
Wonder how many North Korean children will have to starve to death before that regime puts more importance on feeding its poulation than collecting nuclear weapons. . . The North Korean regime is so ruthless, they could almost be, well, capitalists !
James Simms
Sorry but this guy works in our local chip shop,so how come he is takeing over,
Paul Tinker
Getting fatter on the food that the population cannot afford.
chris
He looks a well fed little chappie!
Raymond Castle
I've never seen any photos or film with him smiling or laughing!
Name witheld
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Peter Lowry
He's says he could run the country with his eyes shut lol
James Simms
I know now he works part time in the chip shop and goes home at weekends to fit things in comes back again to pick up his benifit,
eric clutterbug
some more inherited characteristics our dear leader has are bloated,pampered,humourless,automaton and the planes are ready to send him anything he wants from the west just like his wittle daddykins
stevie may
He looks like he has lived his whole life sustained on a diet of pies, chips n gravy, economy sausages a gallon of milk stout every day. . . . . Lucky blighter
stevie may
Only jokin, its giant rabbits, reserve cognac, beluga cavier, truffles and bacon rind and the blood of the poor which keeps him lookin so healthy.
parsons
As long as we keep buying their rubbish the communists of this world will survive.A regime which forces or frightens the people to cry at the leaders funeral doesn't deserve Britains trade and we should ban all North Korean goods untill the leaders change their attitudes,and I'm not joking!!!!!!!!
MarcPayne1
There may be trouble ahead.
Micky Lyden
1:03pm on 29/12/2011
He will do well hope he bring the 2 korea together