Successor in North Korea will be chosen by “god”

Numerous news reports and commentary based on the heir appointment for Kim Jong-il continue to emerge, citing various experts on the matter.

In the Old Testament of the Bible, there is a similar and equally puzzling heir selection story, about how God chose a successor to King Saul. God delegated the task to the prophet Samuel, telling him that the new king would be found among the sons of a man named Jesse. So, Jesse brought his sons and made them pass before Samuel one by one.

When Samuel saw the tall Eliab, the oldest son, he thought: "Surely this must be the one." But God warned Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him." Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. All of them were rejected.

And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Jesse said, "There remains yet the youngest, keeping the sheep in the field." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Bring him here."

Jesse hadn't summoned the youngest because he didn't think the youngest was "king material". But he was wrong. When David was brought in front of Samuel, God told the prophet: "Anoint him; for this is the one!"

In North Korea, Kim Jong-il is a god. He has three sons. Numerous prophets outside North Korea have looked to their oracle bones, giving their human inclination of who would be the next leader of the kingdom. Each of the three sons has been seen as the heir, at least once.

Maybe it will be one of the three sons. Maybe, it will be a surprise. "God" hasn't spoken yet.

[Excerpt of an article by Sunny Lee, Asia Times]