Dead North Korean leader’s son ‘great successor’: Media
December 19th, 2011 - 4:45 pm ICT by IANS
Moscow, Dec 19 (IANS/RIA Novosti) North Korea’s state news agency KCNA has called the late leader Kim Jong-il’s son, Kim Jong-un, a “great successor”.
The “dear leader”, who led the secretive nuclear-armed state since 1994, died aged 69 while travelling on his train Saturday. He suffered a heart attack due to “physical and mental over-work”, state television announced.
KCNA urged the communist nation to rally behind the younger Kim, who is believed to have been groomed to take over power and was appointed a general last year.
Kim Jong-un, the leader’s third son thought to be in his late 20s, is the “great successor to the revolutionary cause of Juche (North Korea’s national ideology of self-reliance) and outstanding leader of our party, army and people”, KCNA said.
North Korea has gone through a prolonged spell of economic hardship and food shortage, with some suggesting that a humanitarian disaster is unfolding in the reclusive state.
The funeral for Kim Jong-il will be held in Pyongyang Dec 28, with the mourning period lasting till Dec 29, KCNA said.
No foreign delegations will be allowed to attend the funeral.
Kim’s body was laid in a massive mausoleum in Pyongyang where his father, Kim Il-sung, lies in state in a glass case.
News of Kim’s death came in an emotional bulletin broadcast on state television.
“It is our people’s and nation’s biggest sadness,” the tearful announcer, wearing black, said as she told viewers of the leader’s death.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said US President Barack Obama had been notified and that Washington was “in close touch with our allies in South Korea and Japan”.
“We remain committed to stability on the Korean peninsula, and to the freedom and security of our allies,” Carney said.
A spokesman for South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said the leader spoke to Obama over the telephone and that the two agreed to “closely cooperate and monitor the situation together”, the BBC reported.
Asian stock markets slumped after Kim’s death was announced.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
pm/vt
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Tags: barack obama, case news, communist nation, food shortage, humanitarian disaster, juche, kcna, kim jong il, korean leader, korean peninsula, late leader, mourning period, national ideology, president lee, revolutionary cause, ria novosti, self reliance, south korean president, state television, white house spokesman