The choice of Kim Jong-un goes against North Korean tradition that would have dictated that Kim's eldest son Kim Jong-nam follow in the family business of running the world's most secretive state. But Jong-nam fellow out of favor with his dad after being caught trying to sneak into Japan to go to Disneyland Tokyo, so Kim Jong-un became the chosen one (Kim Jong-il skipped over his middle son Kim Jon-chul, who defectors say the elder Kim though was "too effeminate" to run the country).
Kim Jong-un is said to have been educated at a Swiss boarding school, he also, according to the Associated Press, is said to be overweight, diabetic and a heavy drinker. Trying to figure out what kind of leader Kim Jong-un may become is hard to figure out (though the AP’s info doesn’t inspire confidence), since in a nation of secrets, Kim's number-three son is one of the biggest: MSNBC ran a childhood picture of Jong-un since there is none known of him as an adult; no one is even sure how old he is, his year of birth is given as either 1983 or 84.
And North Korea hasn't 'officially' announced the anointing of Kim Jong-un either; though North Korean diplomats around the world have apparently been ordered to pledge their loyalty to Kim Jong-un and North Koreans have been ordered to learn the lyrics of a new song praising Jong-un, who is alternately being called 'Comrade Kim' or 'the Young Leader' - following in the tradition of 'the Great Leader' and 'the Dear Leader', the honorifics for his grandfather and father respectively (of course if Kim Jong-un rules into his late 60's like his dad, 'Young Leader' is going to sound really silly).
It also remains to be seen if now that the Young Leader has been tapped as the successor to Kim Jong-il if North Korea will stop their weapons testing - some analysts thought North Korea's recent nuclear and missile tests were an outward sign of a political power struggle within Pyongyang.
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