DATE= 10/8/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-220978
TITLE=N. KOREA / KIM ANNOUNCEMENT (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JENNIFER VEALE
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO - NORTH KOREAN LEADER KIM JONG IL HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY
NAMED THE HEAD OF HIS NATION'S COMMUNIST PARTY -- A POST HELD BY
HIS LATE FATHER, KIM IL SUNG, FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS. JENNIFER VEALE
REPORTS FROM SEOUL THAT HIS ELEVATION TO THE POSITION COMES JUST
AFTER THE END OF THE THREE YEAR MOURNING PERIOD FOR HIS FATHER.
TEXT: AFTER MONTHS OF SPECULATION, NORTH KOREAN LEADER KIM JONG
IL WAS FINALLY APPOINTED WEDNESDAY TO THE POST OF WORKERS PARTY
GENERAL SECRETARY. NORTH KOREAN MEDIA REPORT HE WILL NOW BE
REFERRED TO AS "GREAT LEADER" -- THE TITLE HIS FATHER HELD --
RATHER THAN HIS OLD TITLE, "DEAR LEADER."
THE LONG-AWAITED MOVE WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE OFFICIAL MEDIA AND
PAVES THE WAY FOR MR. KIM TO TAKE ABSOLUTE POWER, BY ASSUMING THE
STATE PRESIDENCY LATER THIS YEAR.
MANY OBSERVERS LONG ASSUMED MR. KIM WOULD BE ELEVATED TO PARTY
CHIEF, AS HE ALREADY WIELDED CONSIDERABLE POWER AS HEAD OF THE
ARMED FORCES. HIS NEW JOB INDICATES THAT ANY OPPOSITION TO HIS
RULE HAS BEEN SWEPT ASIDE OR HAS LITTLE SUPPORT.
NORTH KOREA'S OFFICIAL CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY CONFIRMED MR. KIM'S
ASCENSION, SAYING THE LEADER ENJOYED THE FULL SUPPORT AND TRUST
OF HIS PEOPLE.
THE AGENCY HAS REPORTING IN RECENT WEEKS THAT FRUIT AND FLOWERS
HAVE BEEN BLOOMING OUT-OF-SEASON TO WELCOME MR. KIM'S ELEVATION.
MR. KIM, IT IS BELIEVED WAITED MORE THAN THREE YEARS OUT OF
RESPECT FOR HIS DEAD FATHER, KIM IL SUNG, BEFORE TAKING OVER THE
PARTY.
HE IS EXPECTED TO USE THE NEW JOB TO TRY TO INSTITUTE REFORMS
DESIGNED TO RESCUE HIS NATION'S STRUGGLING ECONOMY. NORTH KOREA'S
CROPS HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED BY THREE YEARS OF FLOODING AND
DROUGHT. (SIGNED)
NEB/JV/FC
08-Oct-97 7:29 AM EDT (1129 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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