N. Korea promotions linked to succession: analyst

The promotions were among dozens ordered by Kim, who commands the 1.2-million-strong military, to mark the “Day of the Sun” — the April 15 anniversary of the birth of late founding president Kim Il-Sung.

Kim, 69, took power after his father died in 1994 and is now preparing for an eventual power transfer to his own son Jong-Un, who is aged about 27.

Promoted to colonel-general were O Il-Jong, aged about 56 and the son of the late defense minister O Jin-U, and Hwang Pyong-So, 62.

O holds a key party post supervising reserve troops, while Hwang has for six years accompanied Kim on his inspection tours, Yonhap news agency said.

Kim also promoted five officers to lieutenant-general and 38 to major-general. He expressed “firm belief” they would remain loyal to the leadership of the ruling communist party, the official news agency said.

“The recent trend shows younger members, and especially the sons of old guard figures such as O Il-Jong, rising to key military and party posts,” said Yang Moo-Jin, a professor at Seoul's University of North Korean Studies.

“It demonstrates a shift in generation as Kim seeks the smooth transfer of power to his son.”

Kim has apparently speeded up plans for a second dynastic succession since he suffered a stroke in August 2008.

The Swiss-educated Jong-Un was little known internationally until last September, when his father made him a four-star general and appointed him to powerful communist party posts.

Those appointments effectively confirmed his status as eventual successor, although parliament last week failed to promote him to the all-powerful National Defense Commission.

“Jong-Un has gradually cemented his status as next leader, and I believe he will gain full control of the military, probably next year,” Yang told AFP.

Seoul's Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported Wednesday that the son was appointed director of the State Security Department, the regime's chief spy agency, in late 2009.

“It seems he has already gained control of the security agency,” a South Korean government official was quoted as saying.

The department, which has about 50,000 agents, ferrets out dissidents and put residents under surveillance, the newspaper said.

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