Kim Jong-il’s heir to share power with uncle, military

North Korea will shift from a dictatorship to collective rule, with Kim Jong-un at its head. The heir of Kim Jong-il will share power with the military and his uncle, 65-year-old Jang Song-thaek.  Jong-un, who is in his late 20s, is not yet seen as strong enough to consolidate power.

A source with close ties to Pyongyang and Beijing denied the possibility of a military coup, stating that it was unlikely. “The military has pledged allegiance to Kim Jong-un.” The coterie of shared power was put in place by Kim Jong-il before he died, to ease the transition of his son into power.