E-Paper
Kim Jong-un new head of N Korea ruling party
North Korean state media has referred to Kim Jong-un as head of the ruling Workers’ party central committee, giving him power over one of the country’s highest decision-making bodies just over a week after the death of his father, Kim Jong-il.
North Korean state media has referred to Kim Jong-un as head of the ruling Workers’ party central committee, giving him power over one of the country’s highest decision-making bodies just over a week after the death of his father, Kim Jong-il.
The reference in the North’s main Rodong Sinmun newspaper came as a former South Korean first lady and a prominent business leader travelled with two private delegations to North Korea to pay respects to Kim Jong-il.
In another signal of the shape of North Korea’s future hierarchy, state television showed footage of Kim Jong-un’s uncle and key patron, Jang Song Thaek, wearing a military uniform with a general’s insignia. It is a strong sign he will play a crucial role in ensuring his nephew keeps a grip on power and upholds his father’s trademark “military-first” policy. South Korean politicians say intelligence officials have predicted that Jang and his wife will play larger roles supporting Kim Jong-un.
Rodong Sinmun said North Korean soldiers were upholding a slogan urging them to dedicate their lives “to protect the party’s central committee headed by respected comrade Kim Jong-un”. North Korea is in official mourning for Kim until after a memorial on Thursday but has begun hailing Kim Jong-un as “supreme leader” of the military. Kim Jong-un will be the third-generation Kim to rule the nation.
