金正日的继承人，他的第三个儿子金正恩，自一年前被任命为四星上将后，迅速升至权力的中心。但是，与其刚刚离世的父亲相比，他更是个迷。据信，金正 恩今年大约28岁。他的生日、母亲和婚姻状况都不为人所知。据信，他可以说包括英语和德语在内的好几种语言。他在瑞士、并在朝鲜的金日成大学受的教育。金 正恩据信可以熟练使用电脑和其他科技产品。在一份回忆录中，他被家中长期的厨师描述为极富有竞争力，而且冷酷无情。
一年前，金正日将金正 恩定为自己的继承人，并任命他出任政府的高级职位。一年过去了，金正恩经常陪同父亲出行全国各地。据报道，他由于对国内和外交政策的参与，并在执政党劳动 党内赢得一个职位，而稳步建立了自己的政治影响力。去年，在纪念朝鲜执政党劳动党的65周年的一个阅兵式上，金正恩被介绍给世界。他当时站在父亲的身边向 部队敬礼，这次露面被国际媒体向全球实况报道。
Kim Jong Il's heir apparent -- his third son Kim Jong Un -- has risen to power swiftly in North Korea since being made a four-star general one year ago. But he is even more of an enigma than his late father. Kim Jong Un is believed to be around 28 years old. His birth date, mother and marital status are not known. He is believed to speak several languages -- including English and German -- and is said to have been educated in Switzerland, and at the Kim Il Sung University in North Korea.Kim Jong Un is believed to be skillful in using computers and other forms of technology. He is also described by a longtime family chef, in a memoir, as competitive and ruthless.
The elder Kim presented Jong Un as his successor a year ago, appointing him to top government posts. Over the past year, Kim Jong Un regularly accompanied his father on trips around the country. And he steadily built his political clout by reportedly becoming involved in domestic and foreign policy, and securing a position in the ruling Workers' Party. Kim Jong Un was presented to the world last year at a massive military parade marking the 65th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party, saluting troops by his father's side in an appearance captured live by international media.