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A man watches a South Korean television station, displaying an apparent photo of Kim Jong-un, the son of Kim Jong-il (Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Images)
Kim Jong-un, the likely heir-apparent to the impoverished communist regime that rules North Korea, had his photo published by North Korean state media, possibly signifying a symbolic power change under ailing North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
The photo, released on Wednesday, shows a slightly-overweight young man sitting next to high-level officials garbed in military uniforms, which was published by South Korean media immediately after it was released. The Chosun Ilbo newspaper identified the young man as Kim Jong-un.
Until the photo’s release, Kim Jong-un lived in a cloud of secrecy and the rest of the world had no idea of his existence until several years ago when a camera captured footage of the young man at a Swiss boarding school. He is presumed to be around 27 years old.
Early this week, he was promoted to a number of key positions inside the regime, including four-star general. Kim Jong-il’s sister, another secretive figure within the regime, was also promoted to a high-ranking position.
Kim Jong-il, 68, remains the autocratic leader of the communist regime but has been apparently been looking for an heir due to poor health.
“We don’t know what the plan is right now beyond that Kim Jong-un is the anointed one and over time he will assume additional responsibilities and a percentage of the leadership role,” Bruce Klingner, formerly a CIA analyst on Northeast Asian affairs, told the Korea Times.
“For now, I think things will still be done in the name of Kim Jong-il, who will remain as the absolute ruler.”
If Kim Jong-un takes control, this would make North Korea the only communist regime in the world’s history to successfully transfer power down through three generations. Kim Jong-il's rise to power came slowly, beginning in 1980, and culminating in 1998, 4 years after his father Kim Il-sung's death, when he officially became head of state.
