'Heir has surgery to look like grandad'

Speculation abounds that the North Korean regime's heir apparent has had plastic surgery in an attempt to resemble his grandfather Kim Il-Sung.

The theory surfaced after the first official photos of Kim Jong-un, the 27-year-old son of Kim Jong-il, were released last week.

"In the images, the family resemblance between Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-un is obvious," The Telegraph has reported.

"The youngest in the Kim dynasty has the same chubby cheeks as his grandfather, a double chin and the familiar mouth that turns down at the ends.

"He also apparently favours his predecessor's preference for having his hair cut very short at the sides and swept back on top.

"The images are in stark contrast to previous photographs, which depict Kim as a slender teenager who looks nothing like his paternal grandfather."

South Korean newspapers claimed Kim Jong-un underwent surgery to boost his standing with the public.

"The Dong-A Ilbo newspaper reported that Pyongyang was hoping to cement Kim's position as the country's next leader through a 'reincarnation of North Korea's late founder'," The Telegraph said.