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Korean Chef Offers Glimpse of 'Lil' Kim'
Jong-Il's heir unlikely to have dad's clout
By Ambreen Ali
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Posted Jun 15, 09 2:29 AM CDT
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(Newser)
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Little is known about the young man expected to succeed Kim Jong-Il as leader of North Korea, and what analysts do know has been gleaned from a book by the ruler’s former chef, the New York Times reports. Kim Jong-Un is the youngest of three sons and most like his father—though his lack of political experience could make him a puppet of manipulative elder subordinates.
"Whoever the new leader is, it will be a collective leadership in name or actuality," said an American analyst. But Kim Jong-Un differs from his father in a key way: He's acutely aware of how his privileged life—with first-world amenities, an English education, and trips abroad—differs from most North Koreans. "What of the lives of the average people?" he once asked the chef.