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Journalism of Courage
North Korea could announce this month an eventual successor to leader Kim Jong-il, Russian news agency Itar-Tass said on Tuesday, quoting a diplomatic source in Pyongyang.
“An announcement about the appointment of a successor could be made as early as this month, timed for the celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the (North Korean Labour Party),” the unnamed source told Tass.
North Korea is the world’s only communist dynasty. Kim (63) has three known sons and analysts have been speculating for years which one Kim will chose as his successor.
The eldest, Jong-nam (34), reportedly fell out of favour after his 2001 deportation from Japan on suspicion of trying to enter the country on a forged passport. Kim is not thought to believe his second son Jong-chol (24) fit for leadership. Analysts speculate that the youngest, Swiss-educated Jong-un, is Kim’s current choice to succeed him.
