Kim Jong Il was unanimously re-elected to North Korea’s rubber-stamp parliament, state media said Monday, in elections closely watched for signs of a political shift or hints the autocratic leader is grooming a successor. Turnout Sunday was 99.98 percent, with all voters backing the sole candidate running in their constituency, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.
Observers will be analyzing the list of legislators for clues as to how Kim and the ruling elite will govern the Communist nation over the next five years, and any signs he is grooming a successor. Kim’s third son, Kim Jong Un, reportedly ran for a seat Sunday in what analysts say would be a strong sign he is poised to inherit power. The 26-year-old is the youngest of the leader’s three known sons and is said to be his father’s favorite.
Kim, 67, reportedly suffered a stroke last August, around the time the elections were due to be held. North Korea denies he was ill and did not provide a reason for the delay to March.
So who was the brave soul who voted against him? Or better yet, in what Gulag might he reside?
20,
I really enjoyed that travel log. It was fascinating, bizarre and strangely compelling. What a nutso place…
At least N Korea has plans to finish the most horrible hotel…
http://www.esquire.com/the-side/DESIGN/hotel-of-doom-012808?kw=ist
What a country…
#12, I hope you are joking, because if you actually believe what you just said, you are a complete partisan idiot.
Until China is out of the equation, I see little change happening for North Korea.
#23. Good luck with that.
PaddyO, don’t be knocking NK, a dog is a fine meal.
Sad sad sad country. Curious to see if this nation ever changes and how it comes to it.
24. Yup. China has no intention of having a democracy in their backyard for their own people to see. China will do as required to keep NK going the way it is so as to provide a buffer for China and its people from the rest of the world.
26, With all the humanitarian aid countries like the U.S., South Korea, Japan, etc. provide to NK there’s little chance of that unless there’s a revolution within NK. People here want to feel comforted that we are somehow helping the NK people (even though our aid only feeds their military, government officials, model citizens and their families). Most of NK’s civilian population starves.
So as strange as it may sound, we are part of the problem perpetuating the regime in NK.
#8
It is easy to control population when only government have weapons, was it that hard to figure it out?
Il isn’t ill?