Finally, after a great deal of delay, most of the residents of Hyesan in Yangkang Province apparently now know who the successor is. According to a source from the city, lectures in military camps, for the Union of Democratic Women and for Party members have been held of late, in which the successor has been revealed.
Or, more accurately, the citizens almost know. The source told The DailyNK that the North Korean authorities have not mentioned the successor’s name, calling him only “brilliant General Kim.”
In Pyongyang, since March, songs about this “General Kim” have been spreading from the military to the middle school. One song released first on Daily NK in May starts with the words “step, step, let’s march gallantly,” and also mentions “General Kim.”
Most people apparently know that “General Kim” actually means Kim Jong Il’s third son, Jong Woon, but many people reportedly know him as “Jong Hoon.”
The source said that idolization teaching for cadres of the Party is ongoing. There was a public notice sent to secretaries of primary party committees, propagation secretaries and organizing secretaries recently which said that the appearance of Kim Jong Woon was like that of Kim Il Sung when he fought against Japan.
The source released the people’s atmosphere, “Secretaries of Party Cells and members of the Party have not yet been directly educated about the successor. Those who were lectured to by the authorities talked about the succession sincerely, but others around the jangmadang said skeptically that they are not sure whether or not a General in his 30s can solve our difficulties.”
