North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's successor Sonny Boy Kim Jong-un is apparently in control of the country's all-powerful military after his father's death. Kim junior on Monday ordered all troops to stop training and immediately return to their barracks, it emerged Wednesday. It was his first order as his father's successor.
"This shows that Kim Jong-un has gained full control of the military contrary to people's misgivings about his power base," a South Korean government source said Wednesday. "It also suggests that he will soon take command."
Another source said, "It seems Kim Jong-un issued the order almost at the same time as the official announcement of Kim Jong-il's death."
The North Korean military stopped training Monday and frontline units have since been flying flags at half-mast. |