North Korea makes it official

A senior North Korean official today confirmed what was already made clear by last week’s party congress, "Young General" Kim Jong Un is being prepped to take over for his father: 

"Our people take pride in the fact that they are blessed with great leaders from generation to generation," Yang said.

"Our people are honoured to serve the great President Kim Il-sung and the great leader Kim Jong-il," he added. "Now we also have the honour of serving young general Kim Jong-un."

Father and son have been making the rounds together, appearing at military installations and cultural events to promote the transition. According to reports in the South Korean press, (caveat emptor) some North Koreans are grumbling about the prospect of Kim Part III: 

As for Kim Jong-un, defectors say North Koreans feel neither respect nor fear. They view him as a child. One defector who fled the North early this year and gave his name as Song said, "The regime says Kim Jong-un has inherited the ‘revolutionary achievements’ and traditions from his grandfather, but the public has no illusions about him." Song added, "People are simply speechless at Kim Jong-il’s greed in placing his young son on the throne."

Daily NK reports that even the military is skeptical of Kim Jong Un’s ability to bring in the bacon:

Officials and soldiers also reaffirmed their resolve by holding “loyalty resolve gatherings,” in which they vowed, “With military force, we will embrace the Youth Captain.”

However, soldiers were reportedly unimpressed by the words, saying things such as, “There is nothing new here that we have not been listening to for a long time,” or “Can we at least get some pork fat to go with having a new leader?”