N.Korean Propaganda Machine Hails Kim Jong-un as 'Genius'

North Korean authorities are hard at work drumming up an instant personality cult surrounding leader Kim Jong-il's heir apparent Kim Jong-un, Radio Free Asia reported last week.

The U.S.-funded radio station quoted a source in North Pyongan Province, North Korea as saying during the Workers Party's 65th anniversary on Oct. 10, the regime made it mandatory for everyone to watch a program glorifying the "extraordinary" leader, Kim Jong-un.

"According to the program, Kim Jong-un is a genius with a thorough knowledge of politics, the economy, culture, history and military affairs and is able to speak many foreign languages," the source said. It said he mastered English, German, French and Italian during his studies abroad and is learning Chinese, Japanese and Russian despite his busy schedule helping his father lead the country."

The broadcast also claimed North Korea became a "self-sufficient" nuclear power because of Kim Jong-un's firm resolve to build up the North's ability to counter other nuclear powers with equal strength. According to the broadcast, Kim realized the importance of nuclear weapons when he learned about the wars launched by the U.S. and its "imperialist allies."

Another source from North Hamgyong Province said the federation of farmers passed out material praising Kim Jong-un's skills and urging farmers to create a new agricultural revolution under his guidance. "The material described an inspection trip by Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un to an agricultural commune in 2008, where the younger Kim surprised experts by spontaneously coming up with a microbial fertilizer that could improve the quality of soil," the source said, and claimed farmers who used it were able to "miraculously" harvest 15 tons of wheat per 9,917 sq.m of farmland.

"Farmers who read the material laughed at it, saying if it was true Kim Jong-un could solve the North's food shortage simply by stepping on all the farms in the country, so all they'd have to worry about is how to dispose of the excess amount of food next year," the source said.