N. Koreans aware of power transfer but forbidden from discussing: foreign diplomat

By Tony Chang
SEOUL, Oct. 19 (Yonhap) -- Most North Koreans know about the pending
father-to-son power transfer in their country's ruling family, but are forbidden
to discuss it in public, according a diplomatic source privy to North Korean
affairs Monday.
"My understanding is that the people are now aware of Kim Jong-un's existence.
They are aware that he has been anointed as the successor (to Kim Jong-il)," a
senior Western diplomat familiar with the inner workings of the North Korean
government said, speaking strictly on condition of anonymity at an embassy in
Seoul.
Rumors of a power transfer in the one of the world's most secretive nations
surfaced last year following reports that Kim Jong-il, 67, had suffered a stroke.
Intelligence officials in Seoul believe his third and youngest son, Jong-un, has
been tapped as successor.
When North Koreans are asked about Jong-un, they deny his existence, the diplomat
said, and according to his sources with access to high-level North Korean
officials, the succession will not be announced "until the government and Kim
Jong-il feel the time is correct to do so."
"All the ordinary people know (of the existence of) Kim Jong-un, but they are not
allowed to discuss. It has always been the case that any discussion of the
succession is forbidden," the diplomat said.
He said the North Korean leader appears to want bilateral talks not just with the
U.S., but with "all members of the six-party talks," including South Korean
President Lee Myung-bak.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, after returning from a three-day trip to Pyongyang
earlier this month, had said Kim wants to improve relations with Seoul as well as
Washington, raising speculation about a possible inter-Korean summit. Officials
in Seoul deny there has been any specific proposal from Kim.
Seoul has been very measured in engaging North Korea, with President Lee vowing
to link inter-Korean exchanges to the North's irreversible steps toward
denuclearization.
"I think the position for Kim Jong-il is that he would like to be able to
persuade your government (Seoul) to break away from that position and have a
bilateral with him without insisting upon real verifiable progress on
denuclearization."
"That's what he wants. He wants a summit without preconditions," said the diplomat.
He also said that Kim is "clearly recovering" his health. The Chinese officials
who were present at Kim's meeting with Premier Wen described the North Korean
leader as "very lively, very dynamic and very engaged," he said.
Regarding the multilateral talks aimed at denuclearizing North Korea, the
diplomat believes "a long process" is needed before the North returns to the
six-party talks, a forum involving the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Russia and
Japan. The communist regime is committed to returning only if it gets "results"
from the anticipated one-on-one talks with the U.S., he said.
"I think the North Koreans have committed themselves to returning to the
multilateral process when they get the results they want from the bilateral
process. I don't think there is going to be a quick result (in the North
returning to the six-party talks)."
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)