http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/08/north-korea-confirms-leader-succession
QuoteA senior North Korean official confirmed today that Kim Jong-il's youngest son will succeed him as the next leader of the reclusive communist nation.
In the first public confirmation of the succession plan, Yang Hyong-sop referred to Kim Jong-un as "the young general" during an interview with Associated Press Television News. Yang said the nation's people were honoured to serve him as their leader.
He would be the third successive generation of his family to lead of the nation of 24 million people founded by his grandfather, Kim Il-sung, in 1948 on a policy of self-reliance called "juche. " Kim Il-sung built a cult of personality around himself and his son, Kim Jong-il.
"Our people take pride in the fact that they are blessed with great leaders from generation to generation," Yang said.
"Our people are honoured to serve the great President Kim Il-sung and the great leader Kim Jong-il," he added. "Now we also have the honour of serving young general Kim Jong-un."
Yang is a member of the political bureau of the central committee of the Workers' party and vice-president of the praesidium of the supreme people's assembly, the country's parliament.
Kim Jong-un had been virtually unknown outside North Korea before he made his public debut last week, when he was promoted to four-star general and vice-chairman of the ruling Workers' party's central military commission. That backed up analysts' speculation that he had been chosen to succeed his ailing father as eventual ruler of the impoverished authoritarian regime.
The world got its first real glimpse of Kim Jong-un last week when his photograph was published in state media and he was shown on television at a Workers' party convention, the country's most significant political gathering in 30 years. Yang's comments are the first public confirmation that Kim Jong-un will eventually take over as leader.
Kim Jong-il took over as leader after his father died in 1994 in the communist world's first hereditary transfer of power.
Jong-Un is Western educated, we know that much for sure (he went to a very private, very elite boarding school in Switzerland...I think I know which one, but I can't be 100% sure...).
Experienced foreign affairs correspondent John Simpson also suggests (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11432894) that China is bolstering Jong-Un, via the North Korean politburo and Workers Party, against the more powerful military, which is the major power in the country's politics. China could push North Korea along the model it followed itself in the 70s and 80s. This would be very good news if that was the case.
What do we know about him? Is he going to be as crazy as the old man?
We know he is around 27 years old, and was schooled in Switzerland. And Kim Jong-il was never crazy. He walked a very fine line between appeasing the military and using his country's nuclear program to get what he wanted - which was nuclear talks (to keep the military in check) and North Korean bank accounts unfrozen. Acting crazy is actually quite a useful strategic position, but the fact he went consistently after those two goals suggest it was feigned.
It sure appears they have deliberately kept him off the world radar.
NK internal politics have remained a mystery to me, I admit.
They're a mystery to most people. Even North Korean analysts don't have much information to go on. However knowing the North Korean military holds most of the reins of power and that state ideology demands that North Korea not be seen to submit to "great power chauvinism" can explain a lot about their attitudes and foreign policy.
Cain, would the BBC be a reliable source o this sort of thing? Because most of the updates I get from them say that even North Koreans aren't particularly enthused about the "Young General" taking over.
So was he born from a rainbow too?
Quote from: Risus on October 11, 2010, 10:33:54 PM
Cain, would the BBC be a reliable source o this sort of thing? Because most of the updates I get from them say that even North Koreans aren't particularly enthused about the "Young General" taking over.
The BBC are generally straight shooters on North Korea, though there is always a margin for error when analyzing the country. Also remember most North Koreans have no say in their government or even much of how they live their personal lives. In their shoes, I'd be pretty apathetic as well, unless ordered to be otherwise.
And more importantly,
DOES HE POOP?
Quote from: Charley Brown on October 12, 2010, 04:26:07 AM
Quote from: Lord Glittersnatch on October 11, 2010, 11:35:29 PM
And more importantly,
DOES HE POOP?
What is wrong with you?
http://www.11points.com/News-Politics/11_Craziest_Kim_Jong-Il_Moments
#9
QuoteKim has schools teach people that his birth led to a spontaneous rainbow breakout... and that he doesn't defecate. Pretty much every textbook in North Korea is Kim-centric. And many focus on biographical details.
A few notes stand out the most. One, children are taught that, when Kim was born (in February 1941), spring suddenly broke out and a shower of rainbows instantly appeared in the sky.
And two, children are taught that Kim does not produce urine or feces like a regular human. He transcends that.
QuoteChina could push North Korea along the model it followed itself in the 70s and 80s. This would be very good news if that was the case.
Why's that good?
Quote from: Mistress Freeky, HRN on October 13, 2010, 04:07:30 AM
QuoteChina could push North Korea along the model it followed itself in the 70s and 80s. This would be very good news if that was the case.
Why's that good?
People with medicine and food and electricity.
Yeah, basically. China isn't exactly a picture of perfection right now, but it is the world's second largest economy, and some of the consequences of that are enriching the lives of the average Chinese citizen, well beyond what they would've had in the 60s and 70s.
In North Korea on the other hand...well, it literally runs on the Stalinist economic and political model. From the CIA World Factbook:
QuoteNorth Korea, one of the world's most centrally directed and least open economies, faces chronic economic problems. Industrial capital stock is nearly beyond repair as a result of years of underinvestment and shortages of spare parts. Large-scale military spending draws off resources needed for investment and civilian consumption. Industrial and power output have declined in parallel from pre-1990 levels. Severe flooding in the summer of 2007 aggravated chronic food shortages caused by on-going systemic problems including a lack of arable land, collective farming practices, and persistent shortages of tractors and fuel. Large-scale international food aid deliveries have allowed the people of North Korea to escape widespread starvation since famine threatened in 1995, but the population continues to suffer from prolonged malnutrition and poor living conditions. Since 2002, the government has allowed private "farmers' markets" to begin selling a wider range of goods. It also permitted some private farming - on an experimental basis - in an effort to boost agricultural output. In October 2005, the government tried to reverse some of these policies by forbidding private sales of grains and reinstituting a centralized food rationing system. By December 2005, the government terminated most international humanitarian assistance operations in North Korea (calling instead for developmental assistance only) and restricted the activities of remaining international and non-governmental aid organizations such as the World Food Program. In May 2008, the US agreed to give 500,000 metric tons of food to North Korea via the World Food Program and US nongovernmental organizations; Pyongyang began receiving these shipments in mid-2008, but in March 2009 rejected additional US aid shipments. The economy probably grew in 2009 as a result of favorable climate conditions and energy assistance from other countries. In December 2009, North Korea carried out a redenomination of its currency, capping the amount of North Korean won that could be exchanged for the new notes, and limiting the exchange to a one-week window. Firm political control remains the Communist government's overriding concern, which will likely inhibit the loosening of economic regulations.
It's GDP per capita is $1,900, which puts it among the lowest earners out of any existing countries.
North Korea leader's eldest son 'opposes dynasty'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11520566
QuoteKim Jong-un, the youngest son, has been unveiled as the nation's heir apparent, appearing alongside his father at a series of recent high-profile events.
His elder brother, Kim Jong-nam, 39, lives overseas in China and Macau.
His comments are highly unusual in the secretive North. But he is not thought to have influence inside the country.
He was once thought to be his father's likely successor, but fell out of favour when he was caught trying to sneak into Japan in 2001 using a false passport.
"Personally, I am against third-generation dynastic succession," Kim Jong-nam was quoted as saying by Japanese TV station Asahi.
"But I think there were internal factors. I think we should adhere to it if there were internal factors involved."
He added that, "For my part, I am prepared to help my younger brother whenever necessary while I stay abroad."
(http://cheezcomixed.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/991163fe-5422-4cdd-9cb8-89ec1410994f.jpg)
He doesn't seem to have the same style as Jong-il
Quote from: Rumckle on October 14, 2010, 11:27:06 AM
He doesn't seem to have the same style as Jong-il
Crazy takes time to ferment.
Give him a year and hell be shooting all the short people in Best Korea to the moon or something.