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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| N Korea renews Kim's leadership | N Korea renews Kim's leadership |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| North Korea's rubber-stamp parliament has re-elected Kim Jong-il as chairman of the National Defence Commission, the country's most powerful position. | North Korea's rubber-stamp parliament has re-elected Kim Jong-il as chairman of the National Defence Commission, the country's most powerful position. |
| Mr Kim's re-election comes days after a rocket launch that was lauded at home but criticised at the UN. | Mr Kim's re-election comes days after a rocket launch that was lauded at home but criticised at the UN. |
| Analysts say the move will help cement Mr Kim's position, after rumours he lost some of his grip on power after suffering a stroke in August. | Analysts say the move will help cement Mr Kim's position, after rumours he lost some of his grip on power after suffering a stroke in August. |
| Observers have expressed concern about the apparent lack of a succession plan. | Observers have expressed concern about the apparent lack of a succession plan. |
| Launch 'success' | Launch 'success' |
| A newsreader on North Korean state television broke into normal programming to announce that Kim Jong-il had been re-elected for a third five-year term. | A newsreader on North Korean state television broke into normal programming to announce that Kim Jong-il had been re-elected for a third five-year term. |
| Kim's leadership renewed in N Korea | |
| Under his stewardship the country would prosper forever, viewers were told. | Under his stewardship the country would prosper forever, viewers were told. |
| Mr Kim is also head of the ruling Workers' Party, but the leadership of the National Defence Commission is his most important position - putting him in overall control of the 1.2 million-member armed forces. | Mr Kim is also head of the ruling Workers' Party, but the leadership of the National Defence Commission is his most important position - putting him in overall control of the 1.2 million-member armed forces. |
| The parliament, known as the Supreme People's Assembly, was formed by elections in which only one candidate was approved for each seat. | The parliament, known as the Supreme People's Assembly, was formed by elections in which only one candidate was approved for each seat. |
| Its current session is also expected to approve reshuffles in the cabinet and the military. | Its current session is also expected to approve reshuffles in the cabinet and the military. |
| Analysts say Mr Kim received a domestic boost from Sunday's rocket launch, despite widespread foreign criticism of what was seen as a disguised missile test. | Analysts say Mr Kim received a domestic boost from Sunday's rocket launch, despite widespread foreign criticism of what was seen as a disguised missile test. |
| Kim Jong-il has ruled the country with absolute power since his father's death | Kim Jong-il has ruled the country with absolute power since his father's death |
| State television broadcast a lengthy paeon to Mr Kim and the military on Thursday, a day after tens of thousands of North Koreans rallied in Pyongyang to celebrate the rocket launch. | State television broadcast a lengthy paeon to Mr Kim and the military on Thursday, a day after tens of thousands of North Koreans rallied in Pyongyang to celebrate the rocket launch. |
| But the UN Security Council has been debating whether North Korea should be punished for the weekend's launch. | But the UN Security Council has been debating whether North Korea should be punished for the weekend's launch. |
| Japan and the US are pushing for a UN Security Council resolution which would reinforce and possibly extend the existing sanctions against North Korea, applied in the wake of the country's nuclear test in 2006. | Japan and the US are pushing for a UN Security Council resolution which would reinforce and possibly extend the existing sanctions against North Korea, applied in the wake of the country's nuclear test in 2006. |
| But China and Russia have been more cautious, saying they are yet to be convinced Pyongyang broke the rules. | But China and Russia have been more cautious, saying they are yet to be convinced Pyongyang broke the rules. |
| North Korea has warned that "strong steps" will follow if the UN does takes action. | North Korea has warned that "strong steps" will follow if the UN does takes action. |
| Fit and well? | Fit and well? |
| Mr Kim, 67, has ruled the impoverished nation of 24 million with absolute authority since his father's death in 1994. | Mr Kim, 67, has ruled the impoverished nation of 24 million with absolute authority since his father's death in 1994. |
| N Korea a problem for Obama North Korea's missile programme Reaction to North Korea launch | |
| But he has no obvious successor, and concern about the future of North Korea after Mr Kim's death has been heightened in recent months due to his ill health. | But he has no obvious successor, and concern about the future of North Korea after Mr Kim's death has been heightened in recent months due to his ill health. |
| Mr Kim's suspected stroke last August kept him out of the public eye through a series of important anniversary events, and is believed to have caused a delay to the parliamentary elections. | Mr Kim's suspected stroke last August kept him out of the public eye through a series of important anniversary events, and is believed to have caused a delay to the parliamentary elections. |
| In recent weeks, North Korean media have released video images of Mr Kim touring farms and factories, in what analysts say was a strategy designed to show he was fit and well before the parliament vote. | In recent weeks, North Korean media have released video images of Mr Kim touring farms and factories, in what analysts say was a strategy designed to show he was fit and well before the parliament vote. |
| Some observers suggest that even Sunday's rocket launch was timed for maximum propaganda value ahead of the parliamentary session. | Some observers suggest that even Sunday's rocket launch was timed for maximum propaganda value ahead of the parliamentary session. |
| A recent report in North Korea's communist party newspaper said Mr Kim was "choked with sobs" that the money spent on the launch could not be used for the people's basic needs - but added that they would understand. | A recent report in North Korea's communist party newspaper said Mr Kim was "choked with sobs" that the money spent on the launch could not be used for the people's basic needs - but added that they would understand. |