North Koreans preparing Kim Jong Un personality cult
New documents obtained by Japan’s Mainichi Shimbun appear to confirm reports that Kim Jong Il’s son Kim Jong-Un is being groomed as his father’s successor. These include a textbook for high-ranking military officials : “Anyone who meets him (Kim Jong Un) is fascinated by him,” the text says, as well as praising him as “a ...
New documents obtained by Japan's Mainichi Shimbun appear to confirm reports that Kim Jong Il's son Kim Jong-Un is being groomed as his father's successor. These include a textbook for high-ranking military officials :
New documents obtained by Japan’s Mainichi Shimbun appear to confirm reports that Kim Jong Il’s son Kim Jong-Un is being groomed as his father’s successor. These include a textbook for high-ranking military officials :
“Anyone who meets him (Kim Jong Un) is fascinated by him,” the text says, as well as praising him as “a military talent who has genius wisdom and policy” and that he “resembles our great general (Kim Jong Il) so much in appearance.”
The documents also state that Kim Jong Un commanded the air force as a “vengeful commander” when there were mounting calls in Japan and the United States for intercepting the North Korean missile in April, and that Kim Jong Il once joked that an enemy country would suffer if Kim Jong Un chose to counterattack.
A document apparently compiled by the North’s secret police urges a prompt preparation for the succession of the leadership, saying, “It is hoped that our General Kim (Jong Un) is crowned as the successor of our dear leader General (Kim Jong Il) as soon as possible so that the burden of our dear leader is lessened.”
Nightwatch’s John McCreary comments:
The haste with which his completely fictitious leadership story has been concocted reinforces assessments that Kim Chong-il could die suddenly. Chong-un has lived in Switzerland and, like his father, has never served a day in a military uniform, except for playing dress-up.
JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images
Joshua Keating is a former associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating
More from Foreign Policy
Chinese Hospitals Are Housing Another Deadly Outbreak
Authorities are covering up the spread of antibiotic-resistant pneumonia.
Henry Kissinger, Colossus on the World Stage
The late statesman was a master of realpolitik—whom some regarded as a war criminal.
The West’s False Choice in Ukraine
The crossroads is not between war and compromise, but between victory and defeat.
The Masterminds
Washington wants to get tough on China, and the leaders of the House China Committee are in the driver’s seat.
Sign up for World Brief
FP’s flagship evening newsletter guiding you through the most important world stories of the day, written by Alexandra Sharp. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.