BEIJING // Kim Jong-un was annointed North Korea’s “Supreme Leader” yesterday as official mourning for his father, “Dear Leader” Kim Jong-il, ended with thousands gathering in Pyongyang, demonstrating the new regime’s control over a nation some feared could slide into turmoil.
Up to 100,000 people, mostly soldiers, packed into Kim Il-sung square for the second day of mourning to hear Kim Jong-il’s 20-something son and heir declared head of “the party, state and army” by Kim Yong-nam, the ceremonial head of state and parliamentary chief.
The young Mr Kim, his 69-year-old father’s third son and designated successor but a political novice, was flanked by senior officials yesterday on a balcony at the Grand People’s Study House overlooking the square.
A three-minute silence ended the mourning, a day after a funeral procession saw tens of thousands crying over the late Kim, even though his 17-years of iron-fisted rule were marked by famine, economic stagnation and harsh treatment of any dissent.
The regime heavyweights flanking Mr Kim yesterday in a show of support and solidarity are set to mentor the young leader - he is in his late 20s but his exact age is uncertain - as he navigates challenges including dealing with international pressure over the country’s nuclear weapons programme.
Immediate concessions on this are unlikely, said John Swenson-Wright, an associate fellow in the Asia Programme at Chatham House, a London-based think tank, with Mr Kim likely to want to consolidate his position by not doing anything that could be seen as undermining North Korea’s military security and his father’s “military-first” policy.
Looming presidential polls in the United States and South Korea also discourage short-term policy changes.
But longer term, with younger members of the ruling elite likely to recognise the benefits of economic engagement with the outside world, “you could envisage a situation in which North Korea gradually opens up”, Mr Swenson-Wright said from Seoul.
Pressure for reform may also come from the general population.
For a long time largely isolated, North Koreans are slowly learning more about the outside world as communications and trade gradually improve across the border with China, and they are realising neighbouring countries are far more prosperous.
“North Korea should show some positive developments in terms of the economy, otherwise the new government may have very serious challenges from the public,” said Seo Jeong-min of Seoul’s Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.
dbardsley@thenational.ae
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
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The specs
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
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Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Results
6.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Celtic Prince, David Liska (jockey), Rashed Bouresly (trainer).
7.05pm: Conditions Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Commanding, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
7.40pm: Handicap Dh190,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Grand Argentier, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.15pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 2,200m
Winner: Arch Gold, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: The Entisar Listed Dh265,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Military Law, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
9.25pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Ibn Malik, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi.
10pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
