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Kim Jong-un officially named first secretary of the Workers’ Party

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was named to what appears to be a top post in the ruling Workers' Party at a special political conference Wednesday, while his late father was declared its ``eternal'' general secretary.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects a military unit in this undated photo. (Yonhap News)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects a military unit in this undated photo. (Yonhap News)


The state-run Korean Central News Agency reported the first details from the secretive party proceedings in Pyongyang.

Kim Jong Un was named first secretary of the Workers' Party. He is expected to have gained other new titles formalizing his position as ``supreme leader'' of North Korea's people, party and military at the fourth Workers' Party conference.

The young Kim, who was unveiled as father Kim Jong Il's choice as successor at a similar party conference in September 2010, assumed power following the longtime leader's December death.

His ascension to the party's top post comes during a week of events leading up to centennial celebrations marking the birth of his grandfather, North Korean founder Kim Il Sung. Kim Il Sung died in 1994 but remains the country's ``eternal president,'' just as Kim Jong Il was granted the general secretary title eternally on Wednesday.

Kim's 100th birthday is a major milestone in the nation he founded in 1948, and the streets were awash with new posters, banners and flags. Outside the city's war museum and the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium, women in traditional Korean dress gathered in clusters, practicing for special performances this week.

One of the main events planned for this week is a rocket launch poised to take place from a west coast launch pad as early as Thursday.

Space officials call the launch of the Unha-3 rocket, mounted with an Earth observation satellite, a ``gift'' to Kim Il Sung and aid the final step of injecting fuel into the three-stage rocket was under way.

A live feed from the General Command Center outside Pyongyang showed the rocket on the launch pad covered with a tarp to protect the satellite from the wind.

The United States, Japan, Britain and others see the planned launch as a provocation and violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions banning North Korea from developing its nuclear and missile programs.

In Pyongyang, party delegates shouted ``hurrah'' as the announcements were made about the Kims' titles, KCNA reported.

Delegates described Kim Jong Un as the ``heart'' of North Korea's military-first policy, KCNA said. (AP)

 

<관련 한글 기사>


북한, 김정은 노동당 1비서로 추대


북한 노동당이 11일 평양에서 제4차 당대표자회 를 열어 김정은 당 중앙군사위원회 부위원장을 당 제1비서로 추대했다고 조선중앙통 신이 전했다.

당대표자회에서는 지난해 12월17일 사망한 김정일 국방위원장을 `영원한 총비서'로 추대했다.

이에 따라 김 부위원장의 당내 공식 직함은 1비서이지만 사실상 총비서 역할을 수행할 것으로 보인다.

조선중앙통신은 "조선노동당 제4차 대표자회는 김정일 동지의 유훈을 받들어 김정은 동지를 노동당 제1비서로 높이 추대하기로 결정했다"며 "김정은 동지를 노동당 제1비서로 추대한 것은 전체 당원과 인민군 장병, 인민들의 절대적인 지지와 신뢰의 표시"라고 밝혔다.

통신은 또 "대표자회는 김정일 동지를 노동당 총비서로 영원히 높이 모시며 김정일 동지의 혁명생애와 불멸의 업적을 길이 빛내어나갈 것을 결정했음을 내외에 엄숙히 선언했다"고 전했다.

조선중앙방송과 평양방송도 이날 오후 6시 `중대방송'을 통해 이 같은 내용을 보도했다.

유호열 고려대 교수는 김 부위원장이 당 총비서직 대신 제1비서직에 추대된 것과 관련, "정치국 위원을 비롯한 노동당 고위간부들이 대부분 김정은의 아버지뻘"이 라며 "이들을 한 번에 교체하기 어려운 상황에서 총비서란 직함이 부담스러웠을 것"이라고 분석했다.

유 교수는 "김정은이 노(老) 간부들에게 겸손함을 보여주면서도 당에 대한 실질 적 권한을 행사하기 위해 1비서란 자리를 만든 것 같다"고 말했다.

북한에서 당대표자회가 열리기는 김정은 당 중앙군사위원회 부위원장이 후계자로 공식 등장한 2010년 9월28일 제3차 당대표자회 이후 1년 7개월 만이다. (연합뉴스)

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