The Cute Leader

A Central Intelligence Agency nickname for Kim Jong-un, the presumed heir of North Korean President Kim Jong-il.

Reporting on speculation that Kim Jong-il has named as his successor his youngest son, Kim Jong-un, The Times revealed:

At the C.I.A., the youngest son’s picture used to be posted in the Asia division, and analysts gave him the moniker of “the Cute Leader” – a play on his father’s status as “Dear Leader” and his grandfather’s as “Great Leader.”

The Associated Press cited a South Korean newspaper report which said that Kim Jong-un is already being referred to as “our Commander Kim.” The A.P. also described last month’s launch of the “150-day battle” – a campaign exhorting North Koreans to work harder to boost the nation’s economy:

Analyst Cheong Seong-chang of the Sejong Institute think tank outside Seoul noted the “politically driven” 150-day campaign is set to culminate in early October. He said North Korea could hold a national convention then – its first in nearly 30 years – to formally announce Kim’s successor.

In the 1970s, Kim Il Sung, known as the “Great Leader,” arranged for his son to take credit for a “70-day battle” before he was tapped as his father’s successor, Cheong said.