Kim Jong Un Takes Charge

Posted on Dec 26, 2011

AP / Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service

In this undated photo released by the Korean Central News Agency in April, Kim Jong Un, left in front row, stands with his father Kim Jong Il, right in front row, and other officials during a visit to a tractor plant in Kanggye City, North Korea.

As his father Kim Jong Il lies in state, North Korea’s new leader Kim Jong Un is taking over the family business, assuming a position of power vis-à-vis his country’s military, his people and even a couple of visiting dignitaries in from the not-so-friendly neighboring nation of South Korea to pay their respects. —KA

The New York Times:

On Monday, the North’s main newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, urged North Koreans to “defend the party’s Central Committee headed by respected Comrade Kim Jong-un.”

The same slogan was used for his father when he was alive. Over the weekend, the North Korean media were blessing the son with the same honorifics until now reserved for his father: “heaven-sent leader,” “the sun of the 21st century” and eobeoi, the Korean word for parent, which North Korea has used only for Kim Jong-il and his father, Kim Il-sung, the North’s founding president.

Under the charter of the Workers’ Party, the head of its Central Committee doubles not only as general secretary but also as chairman of the party’s Central Military Commission.

Kim Jong-un was made vice chairman of the Central Military Commission when he was anointed as successor.

The Seoul government said that Ms. Lee and Ms. Hyun were reciprocating for the North Korean delegations that visited Seoul to express condolences over the deaths of President Kim Dae-jung and of Chung Mong-hun, the former Hyundai chairman.

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