Free Republic

/begin my excerpts "Kim Jong-il Designated Jung-woon, his 3rd Son, as his Successor" : a Source "Issued a directive to the party early this month".... 3rd generation hereditary rule unprecedented in modern history (Seoul=Yonhape News) Choi Sun-young, Chang Yong-hoon = N. Korean leader Kim Jong-il reportedly designated his 3rd son Kim Jung-woon(born in 1984) as his successor and issued a 'directive' containing this decision to Personnel Department of the ruling party early this month. An intelligence source said on Jan. 15, "We have learned that, around Jan. 8, Kim Jong-il sent party's Personnel Department a directive in which he designated...

/begin my translation N. Korea: Kim Jong-il's Third Son Also Suffering from Hypertension and Diabetes All three sons suffering from various illness, a red light on Kim family health (Seoul, Yonhap News) Choi Sun-young & Chang Yong-hoon: Among Kim Jong-il's three sons, the youngest one, Jung-woon(age:24,) was rarely mentioned with regard to health issues, but according to a report, he is also having serious case of high blood pressure and diabetes, though he is still in his 20's. Both the eldest son Jong-nam(age:37) and the second son Jung-chol(age:27) have various health problems. Jong-nam's heart condition is suspected to be genetic,...

/begin my summary Kim Jong-il Collapsed due to Shocking Injury to his Third Son: Euro Expert on N. Korea His third son in critically condition after (an unspecified) accident Two French surgeons treating(him) in Pyongyang An European expert on N. Korea said on Sept. 10 that Kim Jong-il collapsed because something serious happened to his third son Jung-woon(age:25,) who is now said to be in critical condition. Jung-woon has the closest resemblance to Kim Jong-il himself among his sons, and he really dotted on him over the others, which made his psychological shock all the more devastating. That is why...