A senior North Korean official has given the first public confirmation that the youngest son of veteran leader Kim Jong-Il will succeed his father, The Associated Press reported Friday.
Yang Hyong-Sop confirmed the eventual ascent to power of Kim Jong-Un in an interview in Pyongyang with AP’s television affiliate APTN, the US news agency reported.
The reported remarks by Yang, a leading ruling party member, marked the first time that a North Korean official has spoken openly about what will be the nuclear-armed nation’s second dynastic succession.
“Our people take pride in the fact that they are blessed with great leaders from generation to generation,” The Associated Press quoted Yang as saying in the interview.
“Our people are honoured to serve the great President Kim Il-Sung and the great leader Kim Jong-Il,” he added. “Now we also have the honour of serving young General Kim Jong-Un.”
Jong-Un, believed aged about 27, was last week appointed a four-star general and given powerful party posts, apparently confirming his status as leader-in-waiting to his ageing and ailing father.
