N. Korean leader hints at power succession

SEOUL, June 23 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has reportedly made
public remarks indicating the reclusive dictator is in the midst of justifying
his alleged plan to transfer power to his youngest son, Jong-un.

The Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper published by the Workers' Party, on
Tuesday quoted Kim as recently saying, "A revolutionary tradition created by our
founding leader (Kim Il-sung) is the strong root of our party and its revolution.
Our revolution has been successful because the blood of juche (self-reliance) has
been inherited by successive generations."
The paper said Kim made the remark during his tour of one of the communist
North's revolutionary sites in northern part of the country.
The paper explained the remark by Kim apparently paves the road for North Korea
to follow to carry on the tradition of revolution, but North Korea watchers in
Seoul said the remark apparently suggests his wish for another father-to-son
power transfer.
North Korean leader Kim, who reportedly suffered a stroke in August, is believed
to have named his third and youngest son, Jong-un, as his successor. Many
analysts link the envisioned leadership change to the North's recent aggressive
behaviors, marked by nuclear and missile tests.
ycm@yna.co.kr
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