The Kim Jong-Un Era Dawns in North Korea

December 29, 2011 from LinkAsia

The deep, commanding voice of party president Kim Yong-nam rang out across Kim Il-sung Square, launching a new era of North Korean politics and casting a sense of unease across the region. South Korean broadcaster MBC has the story.

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North Korea

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly called North Korea, is a country in East Asia, in the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital is Pyongyang, the country's largest city by both land area and population. The Amnok River and the Tumen River form the ... Explore this topic

Kim Jong-un

Kim Jong-un —also romanised as Kim Jong-eun, Kim Jong Un or Kim Jung-eun—is the supreme leader of North Korea, the son of Kim Jong-il and the grandson of Kim Il-sung. He has held the titles of the First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Chairman of the Central Mili... Explore this topic

Kim Il-sung Square

Kim Il-sung Square is a large city square in the center of Pyongyang, North Korea, and is named after the founding leader of North Korea, Kim Il-sung. Opened in August 1954, the square is located on the west bank of the Taedong River, directly opposite the Juche Tower on the o... Explore this topic

Kim Yong-nam

Kim Yong-nam is the North Korean Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, a position he has held since 1998. He was elected a member of the presidium of the politburo of the central committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in 2010. He was born in the Central... Explore this topic

South Korea

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a sovereign state located in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. The name "Korea" is derived from Goryeo, a dynasty which ruled in the Middle Ages. Its neighbors are China to the west, Japan to the east, and North Korea ... Explore this topic

Politics of North Korea

The politics of North Korea take place within a nominally democratic multi-party system within the framework of the official state philosophy, Juche, a concept created by the founder of the North Korean state, Kim Il-sung, and his son and successor as leader, Kim Jong-il. In p... Explore this topic

Kim Jong-il

Kim Jong-il, was the supreme leader of North Korea from 1994 to 2011. He succeeded his father and founder of the DPRK Kim Il-sung following the elder Kim's death in 1994. Kim Jong-il was the general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, Chairman of the National Defence Com... Explore this topic

Pyongyang

Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255... Explore this topic

Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation

MBC is one of four major national South Korean television and radio networks, and is the oldest among all commercial broadcasting networks in South Korea. Munhwa is the Korean word for "culture". Its flagship terrestrial television station is Channel 11 for Digital. Twice gove... Explore this topic

LinkAsia

From Beijng to Tokyo, from Seoul to New Delhi and beyond, LinkAsia takes viewers into media about Asia -- from Asia -- offering unfiltered insight into one of the most diverse, fast-paced regions of the globe. Each week, LinkAsia brings you a unique half-hour program that co... Explore this topic

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North Korea

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Transcript

Reporter:
Pyongyang completed funeral rights by holding a mass memorial ceremony Thursday. It proclaimed that the era of Kim Jong-il has come to an end, so begins the Kim Jong-un era.

Reporter 2:
Wearing a black overcoat and looking a little flushed, Kim Jong-un appeared in Kim Il Sung Square. He was accompanied by members of the ruling elite, including vice party chairman Sun Choong Tech and military chief Re Yuung Ho. Tens of thousands of civilians were gathered in the square, and the memorial services begun by Secretary Choi Tae Buck. The president of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly, Kim Yong-nam, praised Kim Jong-un as the "Supreme Leader."

Kim Yong-nam:
Kim Jong-un is a supreme leader of our party, our military and civilians who inherit the great comrade Kim Jong-il's ideology, leadership, character, courage and audacity.

Reporter 2:
The Secretary of the Workers' Party, Kim Kee Num, speaking as a representative of the party, emphasized the new leader, Kim Jong-un, will follow Kim Jong-il's ideology and dignity. Many others, including representatives of the military and youth, spoke. All vowed steadfast loyalty, creating an almost coronation-like atmosphere.

North Korean state television broadcast the funeral and mass memorial ceremony live. The ceremony marked the end of Kim Jong-il's era. Pyongyang will likely announce new policy directions for the Kim Jong-un era in its New Year's message.

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