Great Successor, Mediocre Title

The language of titles has played an interesting role in the Juche ideology, which forms the basis for the cult of personality propaganda used to prop up the Kim dynasty of North Korea. Kim Il Sung, the founder of the DPRK who died on 1994, was christened the "Great Leader." His son, Kim Jong Il, was the "Dear Leader."

Now, with the death of Kim Jong Il, the next in line for an overblown superlative is the late Dear Leader's youngest son, Kim Jong Un. The younger Kim has already declared to have been "born of heaven." But it seems like the regime's use of elevated language might ultimately end up backfiring on the Kims.

At the moment, Kim Jong Un is being referred to as the "Great Successor." Although it might change once Kim is official sworn in, for now, the term is one that frames him as a follower, a leader-by-default rather than a bona-fide visionary worthy of public worship. Perhaps the cadre of military and political officials that run the government are having some trouble figuring out what comes after "Dear" in terms of adjectives to connote adoration. Since Kim Il Sung is still recognized as the "Eternal President" of North Korea and the greatest figure in its history, logic dictates that each successive heir to his earthly throne will necessarily be slightly degraded, both in their title and in the hearts of the North Korean public. Trying to find the right title for Kim Jong Un -- one that will position him as both an extension of his grandfather and his father's legacy and give him the same measure of titular authority -- could be problematic, especially when the truth is that he's actually "The Leader That Nobody Really Wanted in Power Yet." Doesn't have much of a ring to it.