Kim Jong-il grooms a "bulldog" as heir
Pyongyang (AsiaNews) -A few days ago North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il appointed his second son, Kim Jong-chul (see photo), vice chairman of the Department of Organization and the leader of the Workers' Party of Korea. This is a key role, allowing the young 27 year old to use the National Security Agency guards at will and sit inside the small politburo of the North.
According to AsiaNews sources in Korea, the move was decided by the "Dear Leader" to curb the ambitions of the third son and designated heir, Kim Jong-un, who it is said will finally be anointed as the "third Kim" to lead the increasingly repressive country on April. The sources explain that the father, who is single handedly responsible for the famine that is ravaging the population, in fear of being killed appointed his second child to "rival" his third and ensure a mutual control that would limit the heir’s expectations and hunger for power.
The appointment was confirmed by the Mainichi Shimbun, a Japanese newspaper close to the Stalinist regime. According to sources in the newspaper, the newly-appointed "was assigned an office adjacent to that of his father, the headquarters of the party. Every time there is a problem, the two get together and exclude all others". The possibility of a dichotomy in command in Pyongyang, the sources tell AsiaNews, "is the highest probability for the future."
The lack of food and the disastrous currency reform, says the source, "have exacerbated the population that is eager to blame someone. Catalyzing their hate on a single figure could be very dangerous which is why Kim Jong-il has divided the power between the two children. In this way, he also keeps them better under observation ".
According to other analysts, however, this appointment could also represent a last-minute change in the choice of a successor to the throne of Pyongyang. The "Dear Leader", in fact, was appointed by his father Kim Il-sung to the same chair now occupied by the 27 year old when he was 27, in the mystique of dynastic power; this could be a signal to the detriment of third son Jong-un. In any case, doubt will be dissolved in less than one month: April 15, a national holiday celebrating the birth of the "eternal president" Kim Il-sung, the North Korean capital will be hung with portraits of the two leaders. But, internal officials report, for the first time spaces are being made for three portraits: therefore the successor will be announced on that date.
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