Kim's son becomes lawmaker, reports say
Source: Agencies |
June 30, 2010, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE youngest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il became a parliament member last year, another sign he is being groomed to succeed his father, South Korean news reports said yesterday.
South Korea's main spy agency, however, quickly cast doubt on the reports.
It is believed that Kim, 68, plans to hand power at some point to third son Kim Jong Un, though little is known about him. Speculation about the North Korea's succession plans has intensified since Kim Jong Il reportedly had a stroke in 2008.
He has led North Korea since 1994, taking over when his father died.
Kim Jong Un reportedly ran for a parliamentary seat in elections in March 2009. The elections were closely watched for any signs of a power shift in the coutry. His name, however, was not on the list of Supreme People's Assembly legislators, sparking speculation he may not have run or used an alias.
Yesterday, the mass-circulation Dong-a Ilbo newspaper quoted a high-level Western source knowledgeable about North Korea as saying that Kim Jong Un was elected in the legislature's Constituency No. 216. The source, who was not otherwise identified, said he obtained the information from unidentified North Koreans about two months after the vote, according to the newspaper.
Another national daily, JoongAng Ilbo, carried a similar report, saying the comments would confirm that Kim Jong Un has formally entered government service after being tapped as the country's next leader.
A spokesman at South Korea's main intelligence agency, the National Intelligence Service, said his organization believes there is a low probability the younger Kim became a member of parliament. The spokesman declined to elaborate.
South Korea's main spy agency, however, quickly cast doubt on the reports.
It is believed that Kim, 68, plans to hand power at some point to third son Kim Jong Un, though little is known about him. Speculation about the North Korea's succession plans has intensified since Kim Jong Il reportedly had a stroke in 2008.
He has led North Korea since 1994, taking over when his father died.
Kim Jong Un reportedly ran for a parliamentary seat in elections in March 2009. The elections were closely watched for any signs of a power shift in the coutry. His name, however, was not on the list of Supreme People's Assembly legislators, sparking speculation he may not have run or used an alias.
Yesterday, the mass-circulation Dong-a Ilbo newspaper quoted a high-level Western source knowledgeable about North Korea as saying that Kim Jong Un was elected in the legislature's Constituency No. 216. The source, who was not otherwise identified, said he obtained the information from unidentified North Koreans about two months after the vote, according to the newspaper.
Another national daily, JoongAng Ilbo, carried a similar report, saying the comments would confirm that Kim Jong Un has formally entered government service after being tapped as the country's next leader.
A spokesman at South Korea's main intelligence agency, the National Intelligence Service, said his organization believes there is a low probability the younger Kim became a member of parliament. The spokesman declined to elaborate.
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