North Korea: Kim's son a great successor

2011-12-19 10:01

Seoul - North Korea on Monday described Kim Jong-Un as the "great successor" after announcing the death of his father, leader Kim Jong-Il, from a heart attack at the age of 69.

"Standing in the van of the Korean revolution at present is Kim Jong-Un, great successor to the revolutionary cause of juche (self-reliance) and outstanding leader of our party, army and people," the official news agency said.

"Kim Jong-Un's leadership provides a sure guarantee for creditably carrying to completion the revolutionary cause of juche through generations, the cause started by Kim Il-Sung and led by Kim Jong-Il to victory."

Kim Jong-Il inherited power when his own father and founding president Kim Il-Sung died in 1994. He had been grooming his youngest son Jong-Un as his own eventual successor.

The son is in his late twenties and had little administrative experience before he was appointed to senior military and party posts in September 2010.

"All the party members, servicepersons and people should remain loyal to the guidance of respected Kim Jong-Un and firmly protect and further cement the single-minded unity of the party, the army and the people," the news agency said in an English-language report.

- SAPA