An Dong-chun

The North Korean Supreme People's Assembly appointed An Dong-chun, the chairman of the Stalinist country's authors' association, as new culture minister, the official [North] Korean Central News Agency reported Thursday.

An is an old hand at hailing and praising North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, having written books lauding Kim's achievements and served as deputy leader of a cadre idolizing the leader.

Yoo Dong-yeol of the Police Science Institute in South Korea said, "The propaganda department of the North Korean Workers' Party oversees the personality cult, but the Culture Ministry serves as its arms and legs." Yoo said An's appointment seems to herald a major new propaganda push.

Kim Jong-il's third son Jong-un has apparently been picked to succeed his ailing father and needs to strengthen his power base as successor to the North Korean throne, but he has so far remained low-key. Experts say this is because the North Korean Workers Party has yet to nominate an official successor, and reshuffles within the party need to take place to back the younger Kim. But sooner or later Kim junior needs to get his own personality cult, and An is well placed to spearhead such efforts.