European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 14, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                And More conspicuous the boards should be set up will greater respect. That will encourage people to entertain greater reverence for the president one Eulogy says. Divine approval for Kim Jong la s succession is hinted Al in e Story of his first trip to his mount a Kedu in 1968, where he stands on a Peak and utters an historic Resolution to uphold his lather s revolutionary traditions. As during a visit to the same spot five years earlier by the president the  and a Rainbow appeared in the sky. This is because the weather of mount a Kedu recognized its masters says an official account. Of of re4 Kim and their personalities foreign analysts in Pyongyang say Little is known. Assessments of the president Range from clinically mad to impressive and one envoy described the younger Kim As very  some observers say Kim Jongil leads a Playboy lifestyle lacks the revolutionary stature of his father and has a limited understanding of International affairs. Analysis believe there May be some opposition to his succession bul East european sources said he is now effectively in control of party government and military affairs. Observers say eulogies of the younger Kim Are increasing and one Book was published last year referring to him As the great Leader a term normally reserved for the president. A formal Transfer of Power is expected As Early As next year As North Korea inches open its doors to the West analysts expect that the personality cult May be slightly lamed. But Adi Tomat said this is a political system based around single personality this personality has to be pushed to ensure the survival of the  if this is Paradise. By James Miles United press International North Korea describes itself As Paradise bul in the showpiece capital Many shops an restaurants Are empty bars Are deserted an the lives of citizens and foreigners Are strictly monitored and controlled. At a distance Pyongyang is a Model of Urban construction. Flattened by american bombers in the 1950-53 korean War the ancient capital is now studded with High Rise apartment buildings imposing monuments and lavish government buildings. But on closer inspection the rare foreign visitor finds an eerie and oppressive City. Traffic police stand Al every Junction directing a trickle of military vehicles buses end foreign made vip cars and Axis. There Are no Jaywalker no traffic jams no Street markets no crowds. A group of Western reporters who spent a week in the capital saw fewer than a dozen bicycles. On Tea Ald Wlk it Tynni wait patiently in Long unas for buses or walk purposefully to heir destinations. The Tew people who linger in the cold streets Are either children throwing snowballs or what appear to be pal Dothes Security men off duty soldiers members of the world s fourth. Largest communist army Are ubiquitous in their thick Green overcoats and fur Caps. Some carry automatic met Skeg Over their shoulders. Police Man checkpoints i on. The City outskirts and some diplomats say no North Korea has Long somewhat a mystery to the non communist world a Sor of Hermit nation. South Korea yellow sea unauthorized citizen can enter or leave Pyongyang. The visitor is driven past smart shops Many of them with no one inside but the staff. At night the Street outside he luxury Pyongyang koryo hotel is fit with Neon signs above mostly empty restaurants and deserted bars. Everywhere the benign eyes of president Kim in Sung gaze on his people from portraits statues and billboards. This the communist government declares is Paradise. The korean people Are the most dignified and tha happiest in the world says one official text. Foreign residents however say life in Paradise is far from idyllic. Thl place domn t compare with the soviet Union said a Young Engineer from. Moscow who has lived in North Korea for 18 months. This place is very authoritarian he said in a hushed conversation Ullh a Western reporter in on almost empty department store catering Only to foreigners. They Don t have enough to eat he said. They Are always  recreation includes propaganda movies and Heaters showing revolutionary operas foreigners said Many of Pyongyang s 1.8 million residents prefer to watch television they have two  said one Diplomat. On one Channel you can see the great Leader the president and on lha other Channel you can see the great  diplomats by Ordinary citizens have no Access to shortwave radio and can Only receive Domestic broadcasts which contain Little news of the outside world. The accounts Are difficult to confirm tour guides ensure that foreign tourists Are kept Busy and under supervision almost every hour of the Day. Most visitors Are from the soviet Union and East bloc countries and few koreans speak English. One cannot Tell the minds of the people. Nobody opens up said a frequent visitor from Western Europe. One foreign businessman was interrupted by an official during a recorded interview i h a British reporter and told not to continue the conversation. An interpreter refused to help another journalist talk to a korean worker about her life. Ii la certainly not an easy life said a Diplomat who like most foreign residents would Only speak frankly with loud background music to confuse suspected eavesdroppers. A Are very closely watched. It is impossible to go 20 Yards without observation he said. A Contact is allowed Between the average Pyongyang citizen and diplomats. If we Are invited out by an official it is always to a restaurant never to his  for members of the Small diplomatic and business Community night life is limited to an International club a diplomatic dub and bars and discotheques Al one of he six International hotels. Most of these fatalities Are Little used. Ii certainly Sharpens one s sense of humor said one envoy. If you can laugh at this situation nothing will Ever bother you again.". The stars and stripes Page 16