( CNN ) -- North Korea continued to mourn its late leader Saturday while calling his successor son the `` supreme commander , '' as the country faces a transition of power following Kim Jong Il 's death one week ago . `` Comrade Kim Jong Un , please assume the supreme commandership , as wished by the people , to lead ( North Korea ) to eternal victory , '' the country 's main state newspaper said in an editorial , according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency . South Korea 's Yonhap news agency speculated that the new title could be `` a sign of the successor 's imminent rise to control the communist country 's military . '' Yonhap reported earlier this week that the younger Kim gave his first military orders as leader of North Korea just before the death of his father was announced Monday . CNN.com : Korea demilitarized zone . The man known as the `` dear leader '' died December 17 of a heart attack at age 69 . The ruling Worker 's Party declared Kim Jong Un , the youngest of three sons , the `` great successor '' to his father 's mantle . Analysts have speculated that Kim Jong Un , believed to be in his late 20s , lacks the experience needed to succeed his father , who ruled the reclusive Stalinist state since 1994 . Mike Chinoy , a senior fellow at the University of Southern California 's U.S.-China Institute , said the challenge for North Korea is to speed up the country 's familiarity with the younger Kim : `` The son is a blank slate . They face the challenge of building up his image and reputation faster than they might have done . '' Saturday 's editorial was full of praise for both son and father . `` This call is an expression of our people 's faith to follow respected Kim Jong Un , who is identical to Kim Jong Il , to the last of their life , '' KCNA reported . Kim 's funeral will be held Wednesday ; the official mourning period will end Thursday .
An article calls for the son of the late Kim Jong Il to lead the country ` ` to eternal victory '' The title could point to son 's ` ` imminent rise '' as leader of the country . Kim Jong Il died a week ago ; the country is in a mourning period .