Avatar of grandfather?

By Ko Tae-young

Recently-released footage of new North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is drawing attention over his striking resemblance to his grandfather, the country’s late founder Kim Il-sung.

The comparison, which comes as the junior Kim takes power after the death of his father, Kim Jong-il, has prompted speculation that Pyongyang is grooming the twenty-something to look and act more like his grandfather, said to retain popularity in the impoverished state.

Rumors have abounded since the heir emerged in 2010 that he has undergone cosmetic surgery to emphasize his bloodline. The country erects a massive personality cult around its leaders to maintain an iron grip over its people.

Though the transfer of power following Kim Jong-il’s Dec. 17 death seems to be proceeding smoothly, analysts remain concerned over whether the inexperienced son can command unquestioned respect from the North’s ruling party and military.

Footage released earlier this week of Kim Jong-un visiting a tank division shows him walking with his hand in his pocket and using his right hand to gesture while talking, habits observed of the nation’s founder. He also shares the same swept-back hairstyle and protruding belly of his grandfather. Some said even his gait was reminiscent of Kim Il-sung as well.

The new leader also freely smiled and gestured with his right hand during the site inspection, reminding observers of the late patriarch’s behavior during meetings with foreign leaders such as Ho Chi Minh.

Observers said the younger Kim, dubbed the “Supreme Leader” is likely to have been coached to emphasize such similarities in a bid to remind senior officials, as well as the populace, of better times. Pyongyang has promised to emerge as a powerful state by April 15, when it will celebrate the 100 anniversary of Kim Il-sung’s birth.

While thousands of North Koreans lined the streets of the capital city to mourn Kim Jong-il’s death, some analysts said the outpouring of emotion was less dramatic than that shown for his father’s passing.

The country’s economy bottomed out under Kim Jong-il as he resisted reforms even after famine in the 1990s killed hundreds of thousands.