worship the glitch
This is Eric Mortensen's blog. He works @ Blip and lives in Brooklyn.
Kim Chong-il does not trust his youngest son to govern anything, which explains the regency troika.
The various appointments and elevation of an untested youth in this fashion has no precedent in recent North Korean history. The process looks poorly and hastily thought out in terms of competence and ability, but crafted to try to keep the Kim family in charge. It suggests that Kim Chong-il is sick and could die with little warning. Appointing neophytes and civilians to four-star military ranks looks ill-conceived and prone to incite resistance from professional military ranks. The leadership is becoming much less stable and durable.
Nevertheless, the announcements leave no room for doubt that the heir-apparent is the third son, Kim Chong-un.
