SEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il halted a propaganda campaign to promote his youngest son as successor after the son began flexing his muscles prematurely, a leading South Korean researcher says.
Kim and his son Jong-Un fell out over military personnel management issues, according to Nam Sung-Wook, chief of the Institute for National Security Strategy, which is affiliated to the National Intelligence Service.
Nam made his comments Wednesday at a forum, which released a tape of his remarks Thursday.
He said Jong-Un's uncle, Jang Song-Thaek, previously seen as the leader's right-hand man, has also been sidelined for the time being.
Succession speculation began in earnest after Kim, now 67, suffered a stroke around August 2008. Widespread reports since then said he had chosen his third and youngest son Jong-Un to inherit power.
Beginning late last year, state media stepped up propaganda to justify the expected succession but the publicity campaign came to a halt in mid-July, Seoul officials and other sources have said.
Instead, the communist state is calling for solidarity around the current leader, Vice Unification Minister Hong Yang-Ho said this month.
"Kim Jong-Il knows so well that two suns should not exist in the sky," Nam told the forum.
Jong-Un had "confronted" his father in June and July over military personnel management, Nam said. As a result, Kim senior had begun suppressing the influence of the son and his uncle.
"Talk about power succession has submerged since August," Nam said. He did not suggest that the eventual succession plan had changed.
Jang, who was seen as promoting Jong-Un's credentials, is not seen in public as often as before, Nam said.
A Japanese media report in September also said friction has developed between Kim Jong-Il and Jong-Un.
An angry Kim had ordered state news agencies to temper praise of Jong-Un and talk of any succession, Japan Broadcasting Corp said.
Around July, Jong-Un "made moves over personnel matters of the military without consulting his father and angered" leader Kim, it said.
A South Korean legislator, citing a confidential report, has said Jong-Un is expected to be officially named as successor some time between 2010 and 2012.
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