north korea's state-run media say kim jong-il's third son kim jong un has been named vice chairman of the korean worker's party. the announcement suggests kim jong un has officially been chosen as kim jong-il's successor. the wednesday morning report says the decision was made at the conference of the workers party in a general meeting of the central commission, the party's leadership body. no images have been made public so far. members of the party's central military commission lead the korean people's army. 19 people, including kim jong-il have been chosen as members of the commission. kim jong un who was earlier given the title of four star general has been named vice chairman of the central military commission, a new post. 30 years ago when kim jong-il first appeared in public as the successor to his father, he was also chosen as a member of the central military commission. jim jiang ill's younger sister kim kyong hui has been named a member of the politic bureau and her husband jang song thaek is a candidate for a polit bureau post. they are expected to act as kim jong un's guar

kim jong il took over the power from kim il song more than 20 years.uring the intervening years he strengthened his grip on the workers' party and pardoned his rivals. however, kim jong un suddenly appeared in public way four-star general and vice chairman of the central military committee. kim jong il and his family act as guardians for kim jong un because he has no military experience and is still in his late 20s. but the transfer of power will not be smooth. north korea postponed the party conference, originally it was set on september 7th, so there is a speculation of dissatisfaction among some party members. but now it has been revealed the purpose of the conference was to show the succession of power. >> i see. so if the change of power continues, what do you foresee happening in the future in north korea? >> well, the country is now faced with many tasks and much international controversy. north korea has been suffering from a devastating economy, and the priority is to get foreign aid and a guarantee of political stability from the united state

this is from reuters: north korean kim chong-il's son and heir to the state, kim chong-il, has named a member of the ruling party's central committee. this is according to state media, from kim chong-il, and his son is believed to have been born in 1983 or 1984, and has been given the full public title today as a general was named to the post at a party conference, the first party conference of its kind in 30 years. and now jonathan, the only organized part of their entire society and of their government is the military. and now kim the younger, which you coined him and he is forever that in studio b, kim the younger is now the head of this, they spite the fact we have absolutely no reason to believe he has had military expense of any kind. period. >>reporter: appear extraordinary promotion for a man who is if his late 20's, but, two important points: he is vice chairman of the military commission, a hugely powerful position because the military is so powerful it is one of the only organized structures when the country, one of the only structures that can guarantee getting food on the

walsh says they promotions about by kim jung il are russian hasty because internal conflicts in the country could threaten his family's part in a city. the youngest kid was only twenty something years old he has no experience when kim jong il was young his father kim il some took twenty years to groom him for this position this is a rush job they are rushing this through for a person who is really has no experience and that's why they've appointed sort of again from medieval times a regent kim has appointed his brother in law to sort of hold things together until the youngest son is old enough to take over but how long will that last will the military want to have a greater say in what's going on will others want to fight for power how will react during a period of vulnerability these are all big questions with potentially big consequences and they'll have to be answered first before we see what kind of leader the youngest son turns out to be in north korea the danger is not that north korea is going to turn around and attack a country with nuclear weapons it really it has a nuclear device

and others around the world i think we have a chance to break the impasse now north korean leader kim jong il is promoted his youngest son kim jong un to the rank of general and was seen as the first step of a power transition it came before the country's ruling workers policy gathered for its biggest convention in decades no official announcements were made in the if you think session has been shrouded in mystery passes he's got that in as our reports that practice is all uncommon in north korea. in the twenty first century everything is global and all kinds of information is available online but there are make just lot of mystery in the world wide web and not just north korea not many are pretty trade secrets like ross my colleague alex you know chefs he was one of you to visit the place and hopefully will share his impressions a alex so tell me you were in a gang what's it like what's your biggest impression be honest with you when i was going there i felt a little nervous having read all the stories about north korea in the western media that it's scary place it's all to different sort of

political war towards the personal you've spent so much time in north korea i believe you've even met kim jong il personally what kind of a man is has. been your i met kim jong il both as a journalist and a diplomat in particular during the then president putin's visit to north korea in two thousand carefully read what a number of state leaders had met him as a president wrote a belgian. want to say that kim jong il appears is an energetic and informed person who knows what he does and knows what to strive for i think that the stereotypes appearing regularly in western and frankly also in russian publications about some unpredictable politician and regime are absolutely ungrounded because an irrational and unpredictable politician would hardly be able to hold power in his hands for the past two decades when many revolutions broke out on money countries actually disappeared money expected the north korean regime to fall however for a number of reasons including truly pragmatic and realistic policy and the ability to outplay the enemy even though in some small things the north korean regime managed

political more towards the personal you've spent so much time in north korea i believe you've even met kim jong il personally what kind of a man is he want to say that kim jong il appears is an energetic and informed person who knows what he does and knows what to strive for i think stereotypes appearing regularly in western and frankly also in russian people are caissons about some unpredictable politician and regime are absolutely ungrounded because an irrational and unpredictable politician would hardly be able to hold power in his hands for the past two decades when many revolutions broke out in many countries actually disappeared money expected the north korean regime to form. however for a number of reasons including purely pragmatic and realistic policy and the ability to play the enemy even some small thing as the north korean regime managed to survive if. you mention that the north korean leader knows what he wants for his country and from his country he's calling a party meeting that hasn't been held in thirty years and many in the west specifically are very excited trying to guess why e

future leaders of north korea used to live there also used to be a terrorist here and the rumor is kim il song used to enjoy drinking theme during warm summer evenings on this terrace discussing the ideas of communism with his comrades while little kim jung il was running about playing your way unfortunately the arc of viewing someone else has only fuel to the mystery around kim jung il is birth there's lots of proof.

in the case from kim il-sung to kim jong il, it took almost 20 years.tarted out in kim il-sung's eyes in 1974, and even then after he died, there were three years of mourning, one until -- one of preparation, and it was not until 1998 when the new government was established under kim jong il, so succession is not such an easy task of naming of its sons or next to the youngest sons or the daughter or whatever. it is not that simple. the basic fundamental change that occurred in north korea after kim jong il took over is that the prominence of the military -- kim jong il's government is predominantly military -- professional military in active duty run state. he was the communist party of north korea to run the country. kim jong il, in a party, for example, since 1980 -- they did not hold the party conference, so 30 years we have neglected the party activity. some basic fundamental changes. notable changes that occurred that were not implemented in north korea are following -- there was economic relaxation on property ownership. north korean constitutiona

of things so we don't we don't really see and overthrow or a civil war breaking out as long as kim jong il is alive now after kim jong il goes and he's not in good health in fact he's in quite bad health you know all bets are off what would his uncle do is uncle in law i should say john song who's married to kim jong il's younger sister what would he do with the really the regent or would kim kim jong un like to get rid of him incidentally i should add that you can john was not the only one who was promoted today they were there were five others who were promoted the most important the family income family the younger sister a woman sixty four years old all right all in the family kim and perpetuating the dynasty ok victor if i can go to you. you're the neighbor china is the neighbor and has the closest relations with with north korea. do you do you think that china and the chinese leadership was given a heads up for a pretty clear heads up of what was going to happen this transition process because north korea if it likes it or not self-reliance or not is very reliant on china. well first

well when that career leader kim jong il promoted his youngest son kim jong un to the rank of general and was seen as the first step of a power transition it came before the country's ruling workers' party gathered for its biggest convention in decades no official announcements were made and the issue of succession has been shrouded in mystery bosses ozzy's company that is out of a report from the practice isn't done public in north korea. in the twenty first century everything is global and all kinds of information is available online but there remains a spot of mystery in the world wide web and not is north korea not many are pretty trade secrets locked around my colleague alex you know chefs he was one of you to visit the place and hopefully will share his impressions a alex so tell me you were in a gang what's it like what's your biggest impression be honest with you when i was going there i felt a little nervous having read all the stories about north korea in the west media that it's a scary place it's always a different sort of scary things when i arrived there i thought it was

leaders of north korea used to live there also used to be a terrorist here and the rumor is that kim il song used to enjoy drinking theme during warm summer evenings on this terrace discussing the ideas of communism with his comrades while little kim jung il was running about playing you know why for sure you are going to be really thought of as only fuel to the mystery around kim jung il newsgroup there's lots of proof that kim il sung lived in doubts however we couldn't find official confirmation that community was born that not even from the f.s.b. this information is still a secret back and yet this small cemetery is the last resting place of the korean and chinese soldiers who died while serving in the regiment.

kim jong-il is called "the der leader." and now his son will take the soap opera into a third generation. he is known officially as brilliant. grimm, poverty stricken -- this is his inheritance. we still cannot film it openly, but this could be the start of change. and now the government tolerates night markets, where people can sell in the streets. police used to stop this kind of thing. now they let it happen. >> it signals there will be a very stable transition. and in north korea. it will take longer than one or three years. >> there is one other important player behind the scenes today, and that is china. china may be worried that north korea will inflow of with incalculable consequences for the in -- will in flowed with incalculable consequences for the entire region so, it is that closed mysterious country across the river -- it could mean that changes on the way for the family business. >> john since then, our world affairs editor there. at least seven people are confirmed killed. the rain collapsed a hillside, bury

of the younger kim may be put to test it fortunately the kim jong il himself is still the supreme leader so that will gain some time a couple of years time for the younger kim but whether he will live up to the expectation and when the support and the hearts and minds of the people around him it's very uncertain saw i think all the stakeholders in this part of the world need to watch the situation very carefully lesage instability breaks out in that country and after all we have to remind our viewers this is a country that potentially could have a nuclear weapon akkad has tested nuclear weapons even if i go back to you the the economy is in tatters. they've tried the currency reform it didn't work i mean it's the tried everything on their path right now it doesn't work what do they have to do and i think that reading your moment ariel i know the answer to take the china path emulate china well the chances of that happening. i think the chances of that are now relatively good because i think that finally they may be grasping that there is no alternative goodness knows they have been obvio

. >>> north korean leader kim jong-il has named his third son, kim jong-un a four-star general in the military. north korea's state-run television made the special announcement on tuesday, the opening day of the workers party conference. it marks the first time that the son's name has ever been mentioned in public. kim jong-un is also expected to be given a high-ranking party post to succeed his father. the announcement said the leader's younger sister, kim yong he, has also been promoted to a four-star general. it's thought she will serve as care taker until power is transferred to kim jong-un. now little is known about kim jong-un, even basic facts about jong-un, who is likely to succeed his father as leader, have been long been shrouded in mystery. >> such things as the year of kim jong-un's birth cannot be acertained with certainty. it is widely thought that the heir apparent was born in 1983, but some experts suggest 1984 is the more likely year. in the late 1990s, kim jong-un studied in switzerland for several years. at school, he used the name pak un and it is said he identifie

that meeting sok kim jong il appointed to the highest ranks of the party, -- saw kim jong-il appointed to the highest ranks of the party, confirming him as his father's successor. after years in charge, he is for real, the elderly, and on well. there is speculation that he is -- is frail, elderly, and unwell. there's speculation that he is about to do the same and appoint his son as his successor. kim jong-un has been given the rank of four-star general. >> there will be cries of joy in public in front of the tv crews. even in private houses. the radio, newspapers, and media will start telling stories about his greatness. >> things may move slow as a matter of course. the newly-bestowed made -- military ranking may be all that is made public with any political promotion keyed -- kept under wraps. it is an imperfect view speculating about what is going on from the outside. a party conference is all about the succession. it seems plausible. it may not be the breakthrough moment that many predict. perhaps kim jong-un will be promoted behind closed doors or not at all. >ordinary north kore

so we are assuming that kim jong il is in very poor health. otherwise why would they be going so fast? >> warner: do you agree with barbara, katy-oh, that there is almost nothing known about kim jong-un the son, that is, nothing that would help us assess what it might mean for korea, what it might mean for korean-american relations? >> well in a sense that's true. because so far starting from the 2007 and 2008, a lot of north korean analysts paying attention to the succession politics, and the third son and basically what kind of works they do and what kind of positions they are getting. kim jong-un was already in the party works. >> warner: can the father do this by fiat? >> i think that the speed and this incredible style of approach naming the 27-year-old boy who hasn't served a single day in the army overnight he's a four star general basically telling us that kim jong il is on a running treadmill. his days are limited and he has to push this issue very fast. regardless of whether he is well groomed or ready. that's the reason they need a r

future leaders of north korea used to live there also used to be a terrace here and the rumor is kim il song here still enjoy drinking theme during warm summer evenings on this terrace discussing the ideas of communism with his comrades while little kim jung il was running about playing and you know why. there's only fuel to the mystery around kim jung il his group has lots of proof that kamal son lived in doubt however we couldn't find official confirmation that community was born there not even from the f.s.b. this information is still a secret back and yet this small cemetery is the last resting place of the korean and chinese soldiers who died while serving in the regiment taking the truth with them if you go to the skin of the arts cave in russia's far east. and there's more to come next hour including a lot of people in new york think of financial giants that are being supported with taxpayers' money. the white collar criminals. we should continue to get the money then probably you know we have to keep the housing market going i think the research you are giving the housing market

kim il-sung and his son, kim jong il, are the only two leaders of north korea has ever known. kim jong-il had a very long and public grooming for power, seen as the only possible successor for his godlike father. the leadership cold could easily pass at you another generation -- cult could easily pass to another generation. the talk is once again of succession, but this time it needs to be organized in more haste. and with the added problem, many suggest, that none of his three known as suns appear to be promising leaders. the first, kim jong nam, was at once caught trying to enter japan with a false passport, trying to visit tokyo's disneyland. the second son, kim jong chul, is reportedly considered too thin and then by his father. that leaves the third son, perhaps soon to be in charge of a fledgling nuclear power. political successions in totalitarian states are always fraught with difficulty, and kim jong-un is a complete political novice. he may be his father's chosen successor, but the other power elites in north korea might be a different matter. bbc news, seoul. >> the

leaders of north korea used to live there also used to be a terrorist here and the rumor is that kim il song used to enjoy drinking tea during warm summer evenings on this terrace discussing the ideas of communism with his comrades while little kim jung il was running about playing you know why. there's only fuel to the mystery around kim young you looking for there's lots of proof that kamal son lived in the outskirts however we couldn't find official confirmation that community was born there not even from the f.s.b. this information is still a secret back and yet this small cemetery is the last resting place of the korean and chinese soldiers who died while serving in the regiment taking the truth with them you go if you're going to leave or to be. in russia's far east. two years ago this week the u.s. government pledged its financial support its giants fannie mae and freddie mac. the companies are now. dead. was worth it lori halfassed also known as the resident of the streets of new york. it's been two years since mortgage finance giants fannie mae and freddie mac. received million

your chair. -- the taste of york shire. >> official media in north korea said the youngest son of kim jong-ilas been given the rank as general. as the first time the name of kim jong-un has been published in north korea. this could be the start of a succession process, say analysts. kim jong-il's health was thought to be deteriorating. you'll find more of that and all the international news on line at bbc.com. we are also on facebook and twitter as well. thank you for watching. >> see the news unfold, get the globe and click to play video reports. go to bbc.com/news to experience the in-depth, expert reporting of "bbc world news" online. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation. and union bank. >> union bank has put its global financial strength to work for a wide range of companies. what can we do for you? >> there is one stage that is the met and carnegie hall." >> o, that this too, too solid flesh -- >> it is the kennedy center. >> check, one, two. >> and a cl

here is his son, kim jong il. and here is his son, the man who has gone from political nobody to a very big somebody in a matter of days. first, just hours before the conference, he was promoted to the rank of four-star military general. now we learn he has been named vice chairman of the workers' party central military commission and a member of its central committee. there can now be little doubt that he is the chosen successor. the party conference has made other appointments, all seemingly designed to allow the ruling family to hold onto power for another generation. kim jong il's sister is in attendance, having also just been promoted to the rank of military general. it is thought she will guide her nephew to the difficult power transition. perhaps at some point over the next few days, officials photos will be published of him and the world will get its first real glimpse of a young man who has just been handed a weighty legacy. bbc news, seoul. >> still to come, why a fifth of the world's plant species are n