Well, okay, then.

From the BBC:

North Korea has called on the country to defend the new leader, Kim Jong-un, to the death, in a New Year message.

The army, ruling party and people should be prepared to act as “human shields” for the son and successor of Kim Jong-il, the message released by state media said.

It added that the nation must launch an “all-out drive” to achieve prosperity.

Yup.

And then this:

On Friday, he was appointed supreme commander of the country’s 1.2 million-strong armed forces, according to state media.

“Glorify this year 2012 as a year of proud victory, a year when an era of prosperity is unfolding,” the message released by the official Korean Central News Agency said.

Yup. Then there’s that.

Strange beyond strange.