North Korean government hails military genius of Kim Jong-Un

Published on Saturday 21 January 2012 00:45

North Korea has credited its new leader, Kim Jong-Un, with heading past nuclear tests in the country as it continues to boost a growing personality cult which portrays him as a confident military commander.

The public relations campaign comes as North Korea pushes for the resumption of six-nation aid-for-nuclear disarmament talks that also include China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States.

Washington and its allies want the North to show it is serious about previous disarmament commitments.

North Korea last week questioned Washington’s sincerity, but suggested it remains open to suspending its uranium enrichment programme if it can get the food aid it wants.

Kim Jong-Un’s youth and rapid rise to power have spurred questions about his readiness for leadership. However, North Korea has dismissed such worries in recent days, saying Kim Jong-Un worked closely with his father on military and economic matters.

The North’s official Uriminzokkiri website said yesterday that Kim “frightened” the country’s enemies by commanding nuclear testing in the past. North Korea tested nuclear devices in 2006 and 2009.

The website did not specify which tests he oversaw.

Uriminzokkiri described Kim Jong-Un as “fully equipped” with the qualities of an extraordinary general, even during his years at Kim Il-Sung Military University. Some of North Korea’s neighbours and Washington have expressed concern about whether he can lead a nation of 24 million with a nuclear programme coupled with chronic trouble feeding all its people.

Kim Jong-Il had 20 years of training under his father, Kim Il-Sung, before taking over.

Even after his father’s 1994 death, Kim Jong-Il observed a three-year mourning period before formally assuming leadership.

North Korea has also made it clear that Kim Jong-Un will continue Kim Jong-Il’s “songun,” or military-first, policy, and a steady stream of reports and images from state media has sought to show him as a fearless military commander who is comfortable with leadership.

North Korea reported yesterday that Kim Jong-Un inspected two more military units.

Earlier this month, its state-run broadcaster aired a documentary that showed Kim Jong-Un observing an April 2009 launch of a long-range rocket. It was the first indication of his involvement in the launch.

The documentary quoted him as threatening to wage war against any nation attempting to intercept the rocket, which North Korea claimed was carrying a communications satellite, but the United States, South Korea and Japan said it was a test of its long-range missile technology.