Why is there news now that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has designated a successor?
A1: The primary reason for the start of a succession plan relates to Kim Jong-il’s health. It is widely believed that the North Korean leader, 68 years old, suffered a stroke last year from which he has not fully recovered. Questions about his capacity to rule increased dramatically after photos were released of the leader at the Supreme Peoples’ Assembly in April 2009 where he looked extremely gaunt and unhealthy. Q2: Who is Kim Jong-un, the designated successor? A2: He is the third and youngest son of Kim Jong-il, born in either 1983 or 1984. The son of the North Korean leader’s third wife, Jong-un is widely reputed to be the smartest of the three sons, and perhaps the most politically ambitious. Jong-un is reported to have studied abroad in Switzerland in addition to his formal education in North Korea. Q3: Who are the other contenders for power? A3: In the tradition of family dynastic succession in North Korea, the eldest son might be the most likely contender for power. He is Kim
