Fatherly Concern
Duyeon | Oct 27, 2010 |
0 
Kim Jong-il glances over at his son and heir Kim Jong-un with concerned eyes as they watch the military parade marking the 65th Anniversary of the Workers' Party. Click picture for better view. 2010.10.10
Kim Jong-il, Kim Jong-un, heir, successor, North Korea (all tags)
What's in a Face?
Duyeon | Sep 30, 2010 | 0 
What is Kim Jong-un like? Well, we can't interview him or fly over to Pyongyang to ask his buddies. So as soon as Kim Jong-un's photo was revealed, South Korean physiognomists got right down to business analyzing every feature to gauge his personality and character. I've taken the liberty of translating the results of a study reported by South Korea's Yonhap News Agency.
Click here or go to the Center's website for the enlarged graphic.
Kim Jong-un, heir, physiognomy, personality, North Korea (all tags)
Kim Jong-un Unveiled
Duyeon | Sep 30, 2010 | 0 
Kim Jong-un is believed to be 27 or 28 years old and 168 cm (5'5") tall weighing about 87 kg (192 lbs).
Kim Jong-un On the Succession Fast-Track
Duyeon | Sep 28, 2010 | 0 As you know the buzz is that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's youngest son Kim Jong-un (age 27 or 28) has just been promoted to four-star general. This essentially makes it official that he will succeed the ailing Dear Leader. I've put up an analysis of the latest military promotion on the Center's webiste - click here for the full story.
However, my analysis does not include the newest update: Kim Jong-un has also received senior political posts in the communist party - this was reported by the North's state-run KCNA rather late (early Wednesday morning Korea time, late Tuesday evening EST). When my article was written, there was no word of this until hours later after work when I was at home casually browing through KCNA's webiste. They dated it "September 28" even though it appeared online on September 29 Korea time. Anyway, this portion will be updated Wednesday with an analysis on the Center's website so stay tuned!
Kim Jong-un, four-star general, successor, heir apparent, Kim Jong-il, Kim Kyoung-hui (all tags)
Kim Jong-il's Surpise China Visit?
Duyeon | Aug 26, 2010 | 0 North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is reportedly in China and there's speculation his son Kim Jong-un, heir apparent, is traveling with him. Kim Jong-il's China trips are usually confirmed after he returns to the North out of security reasons, but officials have reportedly said they detected signs of his movement. It is also his second visit to China in the same year, and his last one was in May.
Kim's reported trip coincides with that of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter's in Pyongyang (read previous post) to secure the release of an American missionary. Carter was widely expected to sit down with Kim, and it is unclear whether that meeting was held before Kim departed for China. IF Carter and Kim did not meet, then it may be because Kim felt a China trip to be much more urgent.
Why is Kim Jong-il in China? When analysing North Korea, it is always easy to speculate than offer concrete analysis based on confirmed facts because the regime is in a black box. Still, we can do some "brain exercises" and think of possible scenarios:
1. The most widely speculated reason: Perhaps to solidfy Beijing's recognition support for his youngest son Kim Jong-un as his successor since Kim's health is said to be fast deteriorating and ahead of a rare and crucial leadership meeting of the ruling Workers' Party. There has been much speculation that Kim may announce his successor at that meeting. Many experts have speculated they need China's seal of approval for his successor, but some experts argue that Pyongyang does not require Beijing's approval on how to run its internal affairs; or...
2. Kim Jong-il realized the flood crisis is more serious than expected and needs China's help; or...
3. He needs medical treatment in China because of he is said to be very ill; or...
4. He wanted to go down memory lane in China and pass down family stories to his son, heir-apparent Kim Jong-un, before passing away because of his ailing health. Kim visited the middle school his father and nation founder Kim Il-sung attended, which was something he reportedly wanted to do for years.
Kim Jong-il, China, surprise trip, successor, Kim Jong-un, Carter (all tags)
