Li'l Il... the Fredo of the Il faimly. 
Posted on 02/24/2007 11:40:34 PM PST by NormsRevenge
SEOUL (AFP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has been preparing a military-led collective leadership to rule the communist country after his death, a news report said.
Kim, 65, who inherited power from his father, had given up the dynastic succession for various reasons, South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted unnamed diplomatic sources in Beijing as saying.
"Chairman Kim, who had picked his eldest son Jong-Nam to succeed to him, changed his mind a few years ago... and is preparing to allow in a collective leadership system," one of the sources said.
Some leaders in the North oppose another father-to-son power transfer amid fears that Kim's entire family could be blamed for economic failure, the sources said.
"I understand Chairman Kim... is test-running the collective leadership with the military authorities in the centre," another source said.
Kim is firmly in charge of his nuclear-armed state but with no obvious successor in sight to lead the reclusive regime, which has built a personality cult around his family since its foundation in 1948.
He officially took over the leadership from his father and founding president Kim Il-Sung in 1997, three years after the senior Kim died, creating the world's first communist dynasty.
Kim has survived a decade marked by famine, a collapsing economy and international sanctions, by assiduously cultivating his 1.1 million-strong military.
Media speculation has been incessant about who will rule in the post-Kim era, with Kim's three sons often cited as possible successors.
The eldest son, Jong-Nam, 35, who has reportedly been living a comfortable life in Macau for the past three years and who briefly appeared in Beijing earlier this month to head home for his father's birthday, is thought to have lost trust by being arrested while trying to enter Japan in 2001 on a forged passport.
He has two half brothers -- Jong-Chol, 23, and Jong-Woon, 20.
Was Jack Murtha invoted to join?
ping
Communism by committee.
If we're lucky, they'll all kill each other and stop oppressing the North Koreans.
Why do I get this feeling a military junta has seized power..
I give it about 15 minutes.
L
Li'l Il... the Fredo of the Il faimly.
It gives credence to a report that Kim said he would rule until 90. He will be in power as long as possible. He would not be in semi-retirement as his father used to do in his last years(about 15 years.)
He is passing the buck to generals to deal with the mess he wrought. I am sure they would not enjoy it, and would do their best to blame Kim family for it.
On the other hand, this is potentially a nice deal for China. This is a situation they think they could control. However, it all depends on how long Kim Jong-il regime lasts and whether he will really abandon nukes.
For all we know, this is Chinese PR to entice U.S. into softpedalling on N. Korean nuke problem.
Ping!
By the way, it also depends on how well things would turn out in Mid-East, vis-a-vis Iran.
The Cuban format.
If they do go for collective leadership, it is more likely that one of Kim's son will be in a ruling council as its leader, but with reduced clout. This would be like current China, which has a collective leadership with Hu Jintao on top.
This sounds more and more like what China pressures N. Korea to be.
This is very funny Kimmy going have his own miltary guys to run North Korea hey what happen to the NBA fan son who may run the country when Chia pet kick it is he on outs with his father
He's smart....not stupid ...not like those other guys.....
Why do they write "leader?" He is a dictator.
thank you...
HMO the Chinese ambassador to NK would be the most equal of all.
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