Global General

Special

Newsmaker

Asia Pacific

America

Middle East

Europe

Africa

Kim Jong-un 'now acting army chief of DPRK'

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-22 07:36

TOKYO: Kim Jong-il's third son, the likely successor to the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), has been appointed acting defense chief under his father, a Japanese newspaper reported on Saturday.

A reproduction of a page of ROK newspaper Munhwa Ilbo shows stories and pictures of Kim Jong-un, the DPRK leader Kim Jong-il's third son. [Agencies]

Kim Jong-un started supporting his father as acting chairman of the DPRK's National Defense Commission, the evening edition of the Mainichi Shimbun said, quoting unnamed sources close to DPRK leadership.

Kim Jong-il has held the country's two highest posts of defense commission chairman and secretary general of the Workers' Party of Korea, since his father, Kim Il-sung, died in 1994.

Related readings:  'Secret' visit of Kim Jong-il's son denied  Kim Jong-il watches opera with sister: Report  Kim Jong-il's successor given new title  Kim Jong-il 'taps 3rd son as successor'

As acting chairman, which is still considered informal, the 26-year-old son appears to be securing his succession to his father, 67, who reportedly suffered a stroke last August, the newspaper said.

"Mr Kim Jong-un appears clearly having been designated to succeed our general (Kim Jong-il)," one of the sources said, according to the newspaper.

"Mr Kim Jong-un is now concentrating on the job of deputy chairman," the source said. "If something happens to our general, the chairman's position will be automatically taken by (Jong-un)."

AFP