Tread with caution on Peninsula

The unexpected death of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) leader Kim Jong-il has left the international community wondering whether the country can maintain stability. In fact, that is a big challenge for the DPRK and its new leader Kim Jong-un, who is still in his (late) 20s. So can Kim Jong-un lead the country out of the difficult times?

The lack of a sufficient transition period poses two challenges for the young leader and his administration. The first is to realize his father's promise of "Opening the gate to become a prosperous and powerful country in 2012". Though the DPRK has got through economic difficulties and international sanctions for almost 20 years, its economic revival will not be easy despite some recent hints of progress on that front.

The second challenge will be to establish his political authority in the country. Western countries doubt that Kim Jong-un lacks his father's influence. But as some Russian observers say, the same doubt was cast upon Kim Jong-il, too, when he assumed the leadership in 1994. But he proved observers wrong. Under Kim Jong-il's leadership, the DPRK pulled through two decades despite the hardships.