North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is visiting China, his only powerful ally, with his son and heir apparent, South Korean media reported.
The visit comes ahead of a rare meeting next month of the North Korea’s Workers’ Party, which rubber stamps major policy decisions. Analysts say this meeting could set in motion the succession of the leader’s son, Kim Jong-un.
“Kim Jong-un accompanied his father on a visit to China and we are trying to figure out their exact destination,” the South’s YTN television quoted a presidential source as saying.
Yonhap news agency also quoted a high ranking South Korean official as saying Kim appeared to have travelled to China.
The reclusive leader very rarely travels abroad, but this would be the second time since May that he has gone to China on which he depends to prop up his country’s failing economy.
There is widespread speculation that Kim is in poor health following a suspected stroke in 2008 and some analysts say he may be in a hurry to establish his son’s succession to the family dynasty that has ruled North Korea since its founding after World War Two.
China’s foreign ministry had no immediate comment on his reported visit. South Korea’s foreign ministry declined comment.
The visit was taking place a day after former US President Jimmy Carter flew into Pyongyang to win the release of an American jailed in the isolated country.
There have been heightened tensions on the peninsula after the March torpedoing of a South Korean warship, blamed by Seoul on the North. The sinking prompted Washington to announce expanded sanctions against the North.
Pyongyang itself has been pushing the international community to return to talks on ending its nuclear weapons programme in return for massive aid and an end to its international isolation.
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