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Kim Jong-Il's successor attends military drill
The anointment of Kim Jong-Un as leader of North Korea is being stepped up, with the newly appointed four-star general observing a military drill this week with his father.
By Julian Ryall in Tokyo
Published: 7:00AM BST 07 Oct 2010
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il (right) with his son Kim Jong-Un (2nd left) Photo: AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Jong-Un Photo: AFP
In a report by the North Korean Central News Agency, the 27-year-old heir apparent joined his father Kim Jong-Il on a tour of a military unit and to watch a live-fire exercise, part of the celebrations to mark the anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea. North Korea-watchers say the fact that Kim Jong-Un's first duty since being elevated within the regime was linked to a military unit is significant as it indicates that Pyongyang has no intention of altering its policy of "songun," or "military first."
Coupled with the idea of "juche," or self-reliance, the national policy ensures that the military receives priority in funding, at the expense of feeding the people or building up a viable industrial infrastructure. Retaining that policy also suggests that Kim Jong-Un will be reliant on the military to remain in power once his father steps aside.
The Korean People's Army unit carrying out the drill was not identified and the location of the exercise was not given, but the agency reported that a number of top military officers were also in attendance, along with key party members. Kim Jong-Il declared his "great satisfaction at how all army units are strongly prepared to smash and pulverise any surprise attacks by enemies and protect the socialist homeland with an iron wall," KCNA reported. After the exercise, Kim posed for a photo with commanders of the unit.
