DPRK leader determines his 3rd son as successor
08:17, 2 June 2009
SEOUL. June 2. KAZINFORM. Kim Jong Il, the Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). has determined his third son Kim Jong Un as his successor, the local press here reported on Tuesday referring to an informed source; Kazinform refers to Itar-Tass.
This move is viewed in Seoul as an official striving to seal the recognition of young Kim in society as successor to the present leader. Analysts here believe that this move has been prompted by the deteriorating state of health of Kim Jong Il, 67. This would be a second inheritance of power from father to son in the DPRK's history.
The source said the Korean Workers Party (KWP), the Korean People's Army, the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, and the Cabinet of Ministers had received such notifications shortly after the second nuclear test.
Kim Jong Un was born to the North Korean leader's third wife Ko Yong-hi, who died of breast cancer in 2004 at the age of 51. Young Kim received education at the International School in Berne (Switzerland) and is known as an American NBA basketball fan. There has been scant information about him upon his return to the DPRK; Kazinform cites Itar-Tass. See www.itar-tass.com for full version.