Kim Il Sung Keeps Power in N. Korea; Son Still Waiting
North Korea’s “Great Leader,” Kim Il Sung, began a new four-year presidential term Thursday, defiantly lauding communism as he kept his iron grip on power.
Kim, now 78 and the world’s longest surviving autocratic ruler, quashed speculation that after 42 years at the top, he was ready to hand over power to his son.
The son, Kim Jong Il, 48, has long been groomed to take over in what would be the Communist world’s first dynastic succession. The state propaganda organs even named a flower after him.
But his father made it clear Thursday that the time is not yet ripe.
With communism crumbling throughout Eastern Europe, Korea watchers said, the veteran revolutionary clearly decided that his isolated, reclusive state still needs his experienced hand at the helm.
The official Korean Central News Agency, reporting on Thursday’s special session of the Supreme People’s Assembly, said deputies rose as one to hail Kim’s reelection.
Other KCNA reports showed that Kim Jong Il did move up in the official hierarchy, to his first senior state post as vice president of the National Defense Commission. His father is the panel’s president.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
