Once again, it has been asserted that the North Korean authorities are speeding up the flow of propaganda for the hereditary succession of power to the third generation of the Kim dynasty. The latest claim is that the authorities are preparing to distribute portraits of Kim Jong Eun, third son of Kim Jong Il, amid renewed fears for Kim Jong Il’s health.
Lee Young Hwa, president of Japanese human rights organization “Rescue the North Korean People! Urgent Action Network” (RENK), stated during a phone interview with The Daily NK on March 14th, “The North Korean authorities are planning to distribute portraits of Kim Jong Eun in the near future. They appear to be rushing the idolization process due to the bad health of Kim Jong Il.”
Lee added, “I heard this from an official inside the Chosun (North Korea) Workers’ Party in Pyongyang who told me, ‘As per an instruction from the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the Central Committee, they are preparing to distribute a portrait of Kim Jong Eun.’ This move looks like preparation for a statement announcing Kim Jong Eun as the successor in the near future.”
In addition, he guessed, “The portrait of Kim Jong Eun is probably for hanging alongside those of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il in factories and households. One possible scenario is that they will hang Kim Jong Eun’s portrait on April 15th, the birthday of Kim Il Sung.”
He also emphasized, “North Korea seems to be greatly rushing preparations for the distribution of the portrait before announcing Kim Jong Eun as successor, which indicates that the health condition of Kim Jong Il is that much worse.”
Rumors of Kim Jong Eun being selected successor have appeared constantly in the domestic and international media since early 2009. Intelligence suggesting that Kim Jong Eun is being trained in key positions in North Korea has also regularly surfaced.
Meanwhile, the song “Foot Steps” and propaganda posters idolizing Kim Jong Eun are said to have been released, however conclusive evidence confirming the truth of those rumors or of the succession itself has yet to be found.
