A source inside North Korea relayed that the rumor first heard in mid-January, that Kim Jong Woon, Kim Jong Il’s third son, has been designated the successor, is continuing to circulate freely, and without any apparent concern from the authorities.
A North Hamkyung Province source with whom Daily NK spoke on the 9th was asked whether he was aware of the recent rumor, and he said, “Most people are aware, as news has been circulating about the third son carrying on the family line as the successor to Kim.” However, he confirmed that “the state has not confirmed these rumors.”
A person associated with a defector organization, who requested anonymity, said, “According to members who have connections with North Korea, rumors regarding Kim Jong Woon’s possible succession have been circulating. It is feasible that a plan to install Jong Woon as successor is in progress.”
The source said, however, that these rumors seem to be coming “not from the official level, but from the outside.”
The source said, “People who have secretly been listening to South Korean radio seem to be circulating these stories but the Party in Pyongyang has not issued a special decree about it. Many people have an interest in the successor issue, so the rumors have been spreading even more rapidly.”
According to the source, the rumor began to circulate in mid-January. This coincides with the issuance of a related report from South Korea.
The source said, “A majority of the people heard then for the first time the fact that the General (Kim Jong Il) even has a third son! After hearing the rumor, most people were unmoved, questioning whether a third-generation of Kims would continue to rule.”
The North Korean authorities have shown awareness of the circulation of these rumors, but have not implemented anything as a consequence. This is quite a different situation than the strict prohibition of the spread of rumors regarding Kim Jong Il’s sickness, as given in “People’s Unit” lectures at the time.
The source noted, “When the news broke of the General’s illness, the National Security Agency stepped forward, saying, ‘We will strictly punish those propagating groundless rumors,’ but now, they are strangely quiet. Yet I am sure that the Party is aware of the recent rumors.”
He said, “In the North, there is a distinct reporting system with regards to the Party, the administration, and the legal sector. Within them, the National Security Agency, the prosecution, and the People’s Safety Agency each have their own reporting system. The release of such sensitive news is directly reported to the Party.”
The source expressed that he is more interested in the intent behind the lack of particular policies from the Party regarding the latest rumor.
“It seems to me that they are almost waiting for the rumors to circulate,” he mused.
