Hollywood Celebs Gossips

Weeks ago, Kim Jong Un, Kim Jong Il’s third son, was believed by the South Korea media as the heir apparent of the North Korea dictator when he was appointed a military post. Now the South Korea media again is saying Kim Jong Il’s second son Kim Jong Chol is being groomed as the successor.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is grooming his middle son as successor, not the youngest son as has been widely speculated, a news report said Wednesday quoting a former political aide who defected.

Kim Jong Chol is holding a secret high-level post in the North’s ruling Workers’ Party as part of his successor training and reports directly to the leader, Seoul’s Dong-a Ilbo newspaper quoted defector Kim Duk Hong as saying.

The 29-year-old “is highly likely to take over the father’s post,” Kim said.

Who will eventually rule the nuclear-armed North has been the focus of intense media speculation since leader Kim, 67, reportedly suffered a stroke last summer.

We are confused!

Kim Jong Un As A 11-Year-Old Boy

Kim Jong Un (pictured above),  the youngest of three sons of North Korea dictator Kim Jong Il, is said to have picked as his father’s successor long time, but there never had proofs to support the claim.  It was rumored Kim Jong Un, 25, would stand for a seat to the Supreme People’s Assembly at 2009 March 8’s North Korean Parliamentary Election, which was thought as a key step for him to become the country’s powerful political figure. But that did not happen. The latest report from South Korea’s Yohap Agency said Kim Jong Un was recently appointed by his ailing father Kim Jong Il to a post in the communist nation’s top military organization National Defense Commission- a sign many North Korean observers deemed he was the heir apparent.

“Kim Jong-un had been appointed to a low-level post, called ‘instructor’ at the National Defense Commission days before the first session of the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly meeting was held” on April 9, the source said. Another source also said that Jong-un works at the commission, but that his exact post remains unconfirmed.

Sources noted that Jong-un’s course of “succession lessons” is different from that of his father, who started his political career in the Workers’ Party. They said the move shows the authority of the National Defense Commission headed by Kim under his military-first policy.

Kim Jong Un, (also Kim Jong-woon, Kim Jong-woong, 金正云 in Chinese), was born to Kim Jong Il’s third wife/mistress Ko Yong Hee (also Ko Yong Hi), a Japan-born Korean actress. There is extremely little known about Jong Un, except that he once received the education in Europe’s Swithzerland.

Jong-un was educated at the International School of Berne and is known to be a fan of NBA basketball. After returning to Pyongyang in his late teens, he has lived a reclusive life, and very little is known about his character.

His appointment as father’s heir is on par with the revelation of Kim Jong-il’s former Japanese chef Kenji Fujimoto who said years ago Kim Jong Un is Kim Jong Il’s preferred successor. Jong Un’s two brothers are Kim Jong Chul (27) and Kim Kim Jong Nam (38, half-brother).

An ailing Kim Jong Il was seen inspecting the swimming pool construction work at King Il Seng University in this undated photo released by KNCA. Kim’s poor health is beleieve as the major reason he tapped an heir early.

Photo: Kim Jong Un’s mom Ko Young Hee

Kim Jong Un

Update: South Korea’s Yohap News Agency again said in April Kim Jong Un is Kim Jong Il’s successor after he was appointed as a military post in the communist nation’s top military organization National Defense Commission. In May, South Korea’s Dong-a Ilbo Newspaper cited former defector Kim Duk Hong as saying Jong Un’s brother Kim Jong Chul was heir appairent.

On June 1, 2009, Kim Jong Un (not Kim Jong Chul) was confirmed as Kim Jong Il’s designated successor by some South Korea lawmakers based on the intelligence they received.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service has confirmed that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il designated his third and youngest son, Jong-un, as his successor shortly after the country’s second nuclear test, Yonhap News Agency reported Tuesday, quoting lawmakers.

The confirmation, given to members of the National Assembly information and intelligence committee Monday [June 1, 2009], is the first word from the Seoul government regarding North Korea’s next leader following months of media speculation.

“I was notified by the government yesterday that there are such ongoings (of succession), and that they (North Koreans) make loyalty pledges to Kim Jong-un,” Park Jie-won of the main opposition Democratic Party, a member of the intelligence committee and close aide to former President Kim Dae-jung, said in a radio interview.

Sources told Yonhap News Agency Monday that immediately after the May 25 test, Kim notified the country’s key institutions ― the Korean People’s Army, the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly and the Cabinet ― as well as its diplomatic missions abroad that he has designated Kim Jong-un as his successor.

It was believed North Korea recently undertook the second underground nuclear weapon test and numerous missiles launches in order to bolster Kim Jong Il’s leadership so that he could have a smooth power succession process to his son.

Analysts have said the North’s recent military grandstanding, including a nuclear test last week and continued missile launches, were partially timed to help the ailing “Dear Leader” solidify a power base so he can name a successor.

“Recent nuclear and missile tests by the North have both domestic and international implications,” said Paik Hak-soon, senior researcher at Sejong Institute.

“One of the domestic implications may be that Kim Jong-il wants to simplify the succession process to his son, which is determined not just by Kim but also by the senior members of the North Korean government, the Workers’ Party and the military.” [Korea Herald]

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Kim Jong Un (picture), Kim Jong Il’s youngest son, is said to have been picked as the successor of ailing North Korea’s Dear Leader, according to reports. WSJ of Chinese version cited South Korea’s Yohap news agency is saying Kimg Jong Il made his decision around January 8, by appointing Kim Jong Un as the leader of Worker’s Party.

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