Seoul: NKorea in father-to-son succession campaign

[GreenStormCloud]

Source: AP

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea is releasing songs and poems praising leader Kim Jong Il's youngest son as part of efforts to groom him as his father's successor, South Korea's spy chief was quoted as saying Thursday.

South Korean intelligence analysts believe that Kim is preparing to hand over power to his third and youngest son, Kim Jong Un. Speculation about the succession has intensified since the 68-year-old Kim reportedly suffered a stroke in 2008. Kim Jong Il also took power from his father, Kim Il Sung.

Little is known about Kim Jong Un, including his exact age, though he is believed to be in his mid-20s.

South Korean intelligence chief Won Sei-hoon told a closed-door parliamentary committee meeting Thursday that North Korea has launched a propaganda campaign aimed at making its 24 million people adore the junior Kim, according to aides of two lawmakers who attended the session.


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In brutal dictatorships, the transfer of power is usually a very unsettled time, with lots of tension.

[Posteritatis]

1. Love the irony of a state that claims to be communist actually being an absolute monarchy. (nt)

[AngryAmish]

2. They should look to the example of Cuba

wait...

[hughee99]

3. His name is Kim Jong Un, but he goes by "Lil' Kim". n/t

[Hassin Bin Sober]

4. Not if it's done right. Apparently, they are making him out to be a deity - just like pops.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Jong-il

Official biographers claim that his birth at Baekdu Mountain was foretold by a swallow, and heralded by the appearance of a double rainbow over the mountain and a new star in the heavens.

If there's one thing they do right, it's totalitarian dictatorships and cult of personality.

[maxsolomon]

5. HEY CHINA!

you can stop another generation of horror. i can't believe Lil' Kim is (as yet) as much of a megalomaniac as his father - there has to be a way out of this box. this has got to end.