N. Korea: Kim Jong-il’s youngest son named general(so is his sister)

JoongAng Daily ^ | 09/28/10 | Christine Kim

[TigerLikesRooster]

Kim Jong-il’s youngest son named general

September 28, 2010

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s youngest son, Jong-un has been promoted to military general ahead of the long-awaited Workers’ Party convention to be held today. The report made by the North’s official Korean Central News Agency has shown this to be a clear sign that Kim Jong-il is pushing his son in line to become his successor.

In KCNA’s brief dispatch, which was released around 1 a.m. last night, it stated the son as well as five others had been named four-star generals in the Korea People’s Army, including Kim Jong-il’s sister, Kim Kyong-hui. Choe Ryong-hae, a long-time aide to the Kim dynasty, was also named a four-star general. Choe is said to be in close alliance with Jang Song-thaek, Kim Kyong-hui’s husband as well as the widely-seen No.2 in the communist state.

Kim Jong-un’s name had not been seen prior to today’s announcement in any official North Korean media.

Little is known about the Dear Leader’s youngest son, other than he has spent his younger years abroad in Switzerland to study and North Korean sources have said those inside the reclusive state refer to the son as the “Young General”. Whatever the case, the announcement looks to confirm heavy speculation that Kim Jong-il’s ailing health has placed him in a race against time to name his son as his heir.

By Christine Kim [christine.kim@joongang.co.kr]

[TigerLikesRooster]

Six People made 4-star general according to state media's announcement

Kim Jong-eun -- the successor, Kim Jong-il's 3rd son

Kim Kyong-hui -- Kim Jong-il's sister, Minister of Light Industry

Choe Ryong-hae -- provincial party secretary from Hwanghae Bukdo, a N. Korean princeling

Hyun Young-chol -- 3-star general

Choi Bu-il -- Deputy Chief of Staff at N. Korean military

Kim Kyong-ok -- First Vice Director of Organization Guidance Department

[TigerLikesRooster]

P!

[nuconvert]

“Kim Jong-il’s youngest son named general(so is his sister)”

how ‘bout me?

[999replies]

Who would name their kid ‘general’? I thought he looked like a steve.

[Rembrandt]

They also would have made the dog a General but the dog was General Tso Dog (aka lunch).

[KarlInOhio]

When do Sasha and Malia get their general's stars?

[utherdoul]

I can just see them trying to lead troops into battle against US/Korean/Japanese soldiers. All of a sudden a general title is much less appealing.

[Bean Counter]

Somehow I am less than convinced that this kid is his Daddy’s kind of Stalinist Dictator. Once Kim Sr.’s personal carbon has finally been sequestered, I would look for some major changes in the North; because I don’t think this kid has got the connections (or the stones) his Daddy does.

Ame I wrong about that TLR..??

[Bhoy]

What a lesson is NK. But nobody notices — like Africa in general.

[GeronL]

Does this mean that Jang is going to be the real power while Kim will be his puppet?

[The Comedian]

Awe, such a cute little leader!

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[Callahan]

I’m honestly fascinated by Kim’s kooky cult. I think it has the makings of a great HBO series.

[Pan_Yan]

I’m honestly fascinated by Kim’s kooky cult.

Have you seen this site?

[TigerLikesRooster]

If the major change comes, it won't be from voluntary and proactive action by Kim Jong-eun and his circle.

They could resort to some bandaid measure: surgical opening of tiny portion of their territory sealed off from general public, where people with 'loyal background' are allowed to work.

By design, N. Korean regime cannot survive open-door policy as more than Mao's China could. The personality cult has to be sustained based on fabricated myths, which would crumble once all information flows into N. Korea, when the economic opening is done.

There will be a change, IMHO, but it will be forced on them despite determined efforts by the regime to defeat it. There would be no orderly softlanding. The regime will resist to the last moment and snap abruptly.

[Pan_Yan]

Expansion of the Kaesŏng Industrial Region or building others?

[TigerLikesRooster]

As part of China's Chang-ji-tu development project(Chanchun-Jilin-Tumen) in North East China, N. Korea's Rajin area(border region with China as well as Russia)could become another such complex they want to set up. Rajin would be Chang-ji-tu access to sea.

I think this is what Chia Head paid to China in return for agreeing to continued rule by Kim Dynasty.

[AmericanInTokyo]

If you want my opinion, before Pyongyang Patty can even come on the TV in the 5:00 p.m. news show, they should start with the anti-Kim Jon Eun propaganda balloons from tomorrow if you ask me; from Kyonngi-do, and off the coast in the West Sea...if the winds are right. Humor would be a great thing employed. Just, via photos, showing how fat and plump this new little General is, ought to make most North Koreans, with growling stomachs, rather irate.

[AmericanInTokyo]

[TigerLikesRooster]

Right. That part of Kim Il-sung’s family branch is one serious medical case. Kim Jong-eun, late 20’s, 5'7’ in height, but pushing 200 pounds(87kg: 192 lbs)?

[AmericanInTokyo]

If they ever do a N. Korean version of “Austin Powers” for sure he could play “Fat Bastard”. ;-)