NKorea appears to give military rank to Kim son

[Akoto]

Source: Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Il promoted Kim Jong Un to the rank of general in the Korean People's Army, the state news agency reported, the clearest signal yet that the younger Kim is on track to succeed his father in ruling the impoverished country.

Kim Jong Il issued an order handing six people - including son Kim Jong Un - the rank of general, the Korean Central News Agency reported in a dispatch published early Tuesday. Also promoted was Kim Kyong Hui, which is the name of Kim Jong Il's sister. Her name was listed ahead of Kim Jong Un's in the report.

The Korean-language report came hours ahead of the start of the country's biggest political meeting in three decades and amid intense speculation that Kim Jong Il's youngest son and sister could be given key posts at the gathering.

It marks the first time that Kim Jong Un's name has appeared in official media.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_NKOREA_SUCCESSION?SITE=NMALJ&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[sonomak]

1. North Korean leader's son apparently promoted to general (27 y/o son)

Source: CNN

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's youngest son apparently was among more than 30 military promotions announced Monday by his father during celebrations of the Workers' Party of Korea's 65th anniversary, North Korea's state news agency reported.

Kim Jong Un has been widely rumored to be his ailing father's anointed successor.

Kim Jong Il's sister, Kim Kyong Hui, was apparently also promoted to general, according to the state-run KCNA news agency.

While it has been speculated that Kim Jong Un will succeed his father, details about him are scarce in North Korea and out.



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/09/27/north.korea.promotion/?hpt=T2

[fascisthunter]

2. Is he another Coockoo Bird?

because his father most certainly is.

[Posteritatis]

3. Nobody really knows

The guy's so deep under the radar that even his age is only an educated guess.

I've heard some North Korean defectors saying he was just like his father though, which certainly sounds pleasant.

[MilesColtrane]

4. Let's see, treated like the offspring of God himself for 27 years?

Yeah, he should have his head on straight.

[jmowreader]

7. His father is insane because he was hit upside the head

No, I'm not kidding: Kim, Jong Il, suffered a fairly severe concussion when he was young, and it screwed him up for life.

So, unless his son was similarly hit upside the head, he should be about as insane as his grandpa was.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

9. Was NK actually less loopy under Kim Il Sung?

Yeah, I know, being MORE loopy is a physical impossibility.

[fascisthunter]

11. wow... did not know that

[maxsolomon]

5. the Chinese are the only ones who can change this regime

the interregnum is the chance. but they're probably too enamored of the money and angst this causes south korea, and will let the transition go ahead.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. !!

Commodus Caesar
Roman Emperor, AD 180-192
Wikipedia (Public Domain)

[daleo]

8. Alexander the Great conquered the world at 25

William Pitt was leader of the British Empire at 22.

Just saying...

[Prometheus Bound]

10. I don't know. He just doesn't seem to have that 'general' look. (Pic)

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. And a couple more key posts

The youngest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has been appointed to two key party posts, in a move widely seen as part of a gradual transfer of power.

State media said Kim Jong-un was named vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party, which is holding a rare meeting.

He was also appointed to the party's central committee. Earlier, the younger Mr Kim was made a four-star general.
...
The conference also made the leader's sister a member of the political bureau and her husband an alternate member, the state-run KCNA news agency reported.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11431415

[ProgressiveMajority]

13. Another country where we have troops

South Korea is yet another country where we have tens of thousands of troops stationed costing us who knows how many billions. To protect us from what? A country about to be led by a 25(?) year old? It'd be better if we never stationed our troops there over the long term anyway. Had we not been there I bet Korea would be united by now.

"North Korea wants to revive nuclear talks, says Jimmy Carter"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/16/north-korea-wants-nuclear-talks

For all the right wing bluster about North Korea, if we had someone reasonable like Carter negotiating with them it's clear you can in fact have reasonable discussions (See the above article).