Report: North Korea's Kim using gifts to win support

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il doled out foreign-made cars to senior intelligence officials to ensure their loyalty to his youngest son when he put the 26-year-old in charge of the country's powerful spy agency, a report said.

The appointment is part of Kim's plan to anoint the son, Kim Jong Un, as North Korea's future leader, South Korea's Dong-a Ilbo newspaper said, citing an unidentified source. The son is also overseeing the handling of two US journalists detained in March while on a reporting trip to the Chinese-North Korea border, the report said.

Who will take over as ruler of the nuclear-armed North has been the focus of intense media speculation since the 67-year-old Kim reportedly suffered a stroke last August. Kim, who has three sons, has controlled the reclusive, impoverished nation of 24 million with absolute authority, sparking concerns about instability and a power struggle if he were to die without naming a successor.

Seoul's spy agency reported to lawmakers early this month that Pyongyang notified its diplomatic missions and government agencies overseas that Jong Un would be tapped as the next leader.

This is why people laughed when the Bush Administration (VERY CLEVERLY IN THE EARLY DAYS!) slapped on the embargo for North Korea to get ANY luxury goods: high class cars, gold watches, expensive brandies, chocolates, designer goods, 寿司、海栗, perfumes).

Some uninformed people who dont know how the place worked thought, "OH JUST GREAT, THE NORKIES WHO ARE STARVING TO DEATH ON TREE BARK ARE GOING TO MISS THESE LUXURIES."

No, it was a brilliant move based on DPRK analytical information that showed that in taking away Chia Pet's ability to the upper DPRK elite with goodies (because they hate his guts and will plug him when they have a chance), we could facilitate regime change.

If Obama had any sense, he would work to crack down on such luxuries again, as it will upset the Korean Workers Party elite circles and throw little Chia Pet's bribery game into a tizzy. LOL. THAT's when the shooting starts. When General Kim or General Ok or Director Kang don't get their Mercedes' or Estonian prostitutes or Godiva Chocolates..... ;-)

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