Right after Kim Jong-il's deathon due to a serious heart shock while on a train trip on 17 December 2011, his third and youngest son Kim Jong-un is announced to take over as the leader of North Korea following his recently deceased father. The world’s attention is currently focusing on Kim Jong Un, Kim Jong-il's little-known designated successor, on whether the young leader could truly replace the most unhinged dictator on the planet, lead a nuclear state wracked by instability and 24 million residents. The North's official Korean Central News Agency states to their people, “must faithfully revere respectable comrade Kim Jong-un. At the leadership of comrade Kim Jong un, we have to change sadness to strength and courage and overcome today's difficulties”. Obviously, if Kim Jong un becomes the third member of his family to lead North Korea (his grandfather founded the state in 1948), he will face immediate challenges.
The “great successor” Kim Jong Un was reportedly born on January 1983 and made his first appearance as he was appointed a four-star general last year. He has been assigned two significant political posts — membership on the Central Committee of the party and a vice chairmanship of the party’s Central Military Committee since 2010. South Korean media reports that Kim Jong-il's brother-in-law, Jang Song-thaek, has been worked as the mentor to him in a more steady transition of power.
The Kim Jong-il’s youngest and inexperienced son Kim Jong un is newly appointed leader of North Korean– one of the most precarious and top-heavy government in the world
The leader-in-waiting Kim Jong Un, who has a reputation as a student for being extremely competitive, particularly in sports, attended a number of schools in Switzerland using various pseudonyms including be the son of a driver
Kim Jong un talks about his Dad, “That's what was so special about Dad, you know: He never worried about all that stuff, he just acted like himself. What can I say? The old man set the loony bar pretty high” and adds “God, I'm really going to miss him, you know?”
Following his father’s footsteps of the godlike reverence, the young Kim Jong Un’s birthday will make a national holiday, stating “January 8th, the birthday of the 'Young General', is also one of our biggest holidays”
North Korea former leader Kim Jong Il and his son Kim Jong Un attend a massive military parade to mark the 65th anniversary of the communist nation's ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang, North Korea on October 2010
Reportedly, the North Korea soldiers have watched a documentary film about the incoming leader in recent months, which begins with “Following in the footsteps of the General, offering guidance to the troops, comrade General Kim Jong Un delivers a great blow to the enemy with the resourcefulness of his keen insight”
Kim Jong un is said to have undergone six plastic surgery in order to closely resemble his grandfather - the deeply respected Kim Il-sung
Kim Jong un, who inherits power in the communist state's second dynastic succession, is seen in a rare photo
Questions over Kim Jong-un's readiness to lead
Related links:
Kim Jong Il’s Cause of Death and Funeral Arrangements (Pictures)
