Kim Jong-il to Announce Heir in 2005

North Korea’s leading newspaper, the Rodong Shinmun said North Korean leader Kim Jong-il will announce his successor next year in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the North Korean Labor Party, Radio Press, Japanese specialized broadcast for North Korean news, reported Friday. Kim is now 61 years old.

An editorial celebrating the Labor Party’s 58th anniversary this year read “At the 60th anniversary, Kim Jong-il will hand down and enlighten his great works and let known to the world our revolutionary spirit, unity and pride. It shall be a festival.”

Many predictions are being made as to the changes that will come after the nomination of the next North Korean leader, and Radio Press predicted these changes to come around the second half of 2005.

The rumor of the two heir-potentials, Kim Jong-chul (22) and Kim Jong-woon (20), born to Kim and his current wife Go Young-hee, has spread that they are now secretly rivaling as to who will be heir to the next nation’s leader.

Meanwhile Kim himself did not show up to this year’s Labor Party foundation anniversary, as his whereabouts has been unclear since last month’s commemoration ceremony celebrating the founding of the North Korean government on September 9.

parkwj@donga.com