Hereditary rule becomes theme of North Korea power

N Korea: Kim Jong-il's third son, Kim Jong-un, is the clearly anointed and intended successor of the North Korean leadership.

He was unveiled as heir at a Workers’ Party conference in September 2010, where he was made a four-star general and vice-chair of the Party's Central Military Commission.

He has made increasingly frequent appearances in North Korean media, often accompanying his father, since then.

His name is first in the list of members of the “national funeral committee” published by the main North Korean news agency, the KCNA - something observers say is a good guide to individual rankings in the Pyongyang power structure.

Chang Song-taek, brother-in-law of former leader Kim Jong-il and uncle of new leader Kim Jong-un, is seen in this undated picture released by North Korea's official news agency KCNA on 9 June 2010 Chang Song-taek - probably Kim Jong-un's single most important mentor

Hereditary rule has become such a central theme of North Korean power, and Kim Jong-un's position as successor has been so firmly stated and restated by state media, that no individual is likely to mount an overt challenge to the rule of the “Young General”, at least in the immediate term, analysts say. But Kim Jong-un - not yet 30 - is an untried and inexperienced leader who is inheriting an impoverished pariah state probably years before he expected to.

Some analysts warn that behind the scenes, a power struggle could erupt as senior figures in the Party, military, parliament and “first family” jostle for control. Others suggest that the younger Kim will be the new figurehead of an established, experienced group which will govern collectively.

We identify some of the key characters in the North Korean leadership who may attempt to guide - or rival - the new leader's decision-making. BBC News