North Korean Delegates Gather to Anoint Kim Jong Un His Father's Heir
Kim Jong Il's son Kim Jong Un expected to be designated his succesor.
SEOUL, South Korea Sept. 8, 2010— -- Regional party delegates from all corners of North Korea have completed their travel to Pyongyang on Wednesday and standing by for their landmark political convention to convene anytime soon.
The largest meeting in 30 years is scheduled to take place in early September at which analysts largely expect North Korea to officially debut its leader Kim Jong Il's son and apparent heir, Kim Jong Un.
"Kim Jong Il must have tested his (three) sons and finally decided the third son is best suited. They've been consistently and carefully preparing for this debut for quite some time," said Chul Ki Ju, professor of international studies at Seoul National University.
Local press in South Korea is predicting the meeting to take place at least by Sept. 15. The reason for the vague delay, many North Korea watchers in Seoul say, is because of Kim Jong Il's failing health.
"If he is to take charge in this historic meeting, he has to sit down for five straight hours for two days. He is simply not fit for that," said Tae-Keung Ha, president of Open Radio for North Korea, a non-profit organization with close regular contacts with sources inside the North.
Little is known to the outside world about the son, Kim Jong-Un, whose age and picture is yet to be confirmed by the North Korean government. Their state media has never mentioned his name or age, or shown his photo in public. But intelligence sources in Seoul have described the younger Kim to be somewhere between 26 to 28 years old. Numerous photos claimed to be of the young heir has appeared in the world media, but most of them are still in dispute.
"No one knows what he looks like, but it is certain that he indeed exists and is slated to be the next leader," said Tae-Gyun Park, professor of international studies at Seoul National University.
The young Kim is not only mysterious to the world, but also to the North Korean people. Eyewitnesses and sources close to North Korea say only recently have the party officials started to openly talk about the "brilliant comrade."
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