A new image of Kim Jong Eun, whose adult face had been hitherto shrouded in mystery, was unveiled today.
Rodong Shinmun published the commemorative Delegates’ Conference photo on the front page of today’s issue. It also appeared on the Chosun Central News Agency (KCNA). In it, Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Eun and other high officials sit at the front of lines of dark-suited cadres before the Mt. Keumsoo Memorial Palace, where Kim Il Sung’s embalmed corpse lies in state.
Defectors who were shown the image today said that Kim Jong Eun, who appears dressed in one of Kim Jong Il’s traditional suits, looks like Kim Il Sung, his grandfather, but that his chubby face seems more like that of his father, Kim Jong Il.
Revealing his image for the first time the day after announcing his positions publicly is as good as an official declaration of the succession to the international and domestic audience.
Kim Jong Il, even though he was internally appointed as the successor when he became a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee in 1974, was not revealed to the public until 1980 when the succession system was publicized officially at the 6th Party Congress. Kim Jong Eun’s political advancement is a great deal more rapid than that.
After idolization propaganda for the younger man started in 2008, his public personality has moved through phases: the dissemination of idolization songs and lectures, suggestions of his involvement in organizing landmark events, then recently an internal Party book containing his photo. Now, eventually, he has taken official positions, and been revealed to the public in a photo.
Therefore, it is likely that Kim Jong Eun will begin to appear in photos from Kim Jong Il’s onsite inspections and get involved in open activities such as meeting residents or cadres face-to-face.
Unveiling Kim Jong Eun’s image so soon after the Conference also implies that the North Korean authorities plan to maintain the high pace of the succession project, suggesting that Kim Jong Il is concerned about something, quite possibly the state of his health.
