Number One Son
Sir: John Derbyshire spoiled an excellent piece (12 March) on North Korea by sug- gesting that Kim Jong-il's real identity might be unknown in the DPRK. He forgot the stamp on Prince Sihanouk's letter from Pyongyang to Peking. This reproduced the official portrait of Princess Diana with Prince William and its unsubtle message reminds North Koreans that 'the only true loyalty to the glorious Juche cause and Kimilsungism is blood loyalty'. There is no mystery about the recent eclipse of the Great Leader's second wife in favour of the Dear Leader's 'Revolutionary Mother'.
North Koreans know perfectly well who Kim Jong-il is. That is the point. It remains to be seen whether the generals who fought the Korean war — when Junior Kim was eight — will allow Kim II-sung 'to resolutely pursue right succession policy'.
Bruce Seaford
10 Kidbrooke Park Road, London SE3
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