Sept 27 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has convened a rare conference of the ruling Workers' Party in a move expected to signal the eventual succession of his third and youngest known son, Kim Jong-un.
Following are some facts about Kim Jong-un and speculation about his prospects:
BIRTH
Jong-un is thought to have been born on Jan. 8, 1984. His mother Ko Yong-hui, also written as Ko Young-hee, was an ethnic Korean born in Japan who went to the communist state and joined one of its premier dance troupes. Ko also gave birth to the North Korean leader's second son, Kim Jong-chol, in 1981. Ko, who died in 2004, probably from cancer, was either Kim Jong-il's official wife or mistress -- an issue that might weigh on Jong-un's legitimacy.
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EARLY YEARS AND EDUCATION
Jong-un attended an international school in Switzerland, where he learned to speak English, German and French. He is believed to have graduated in 1998. He later returned to North Korea and studied military science at Kim Il-sung Military University between 2002 and 2006. There are few known photographs of him. He has generally been more elusive than his two elder brothers, who have been spotted travelling outside the North.
SPECULATION ON HIS CHARACTER
Kenji Fujimoto, who served as the personal chef for Kim Jong-il, wrote in a book that Jong-un bears the closest resemblance to his father among his three sons.
Jong-un is also reported to have a ruthless streak and the strongest leadership skills of the three. And, perhaps more importantly, he is thought to be his father's favourite, Fujimoto and other informed sources have been reported as saying.
South Korean media have speculated that Kim Jong-un may also suffer from diabetes, something that is thought to have long plagued his father.
CULT OF PERSONALITY
There is none for Jong-un, who has never been mentioned in the North's state media and is virtually unknown to the North's people. By contrast, "Dear Leader" Kim Jong-il was known for decades and lauded as a revolutionary hero by the North's propaganda machine well before he took over after his father and state founder "Great Leader" Kim Il-sung died in 1994.
Behind the scenes, there have been moves to promote the young Kim. In 2006, badges with his face were reportedly distributed among senior North Korean officials. A year later he was reported to be working in one of the departments responsible for monitoring members of the party and military. Last year, South Korean media reported that Kim Jong-il appointed his youngest son to be his successor, but that remains unconfirmed. There have also been reports that songs praising the son are sung on special occasions, and he has been given the title of "Brilliant Comrade," much like his father, the "Dear Leader," and his grandfather, the "Great Leader."
PROSPECTS FOR CONTROL
Kim Jong-un will likely not be able to run the state on his own given his youth, inexperience and lack of recognition among North Koreans, analysts say.
Kim Jong-il promoted Jang Song-taek, his brother-in-law, to the powerful National Defence Commission, which many analysts took to be an attempt to establish a mechanism for the eventual transfer of power to Jong-un, with Jang as caretaker and kingmaker. (Reporting by Jack Kim and Jeremy Laurence)
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