North Korea: China supports its succession plan

Feb 15, 2011, 13:32 GMT

Seoul - North Korean leader Kim Jong Il received China's support for his succession plan, the country's official news agency reported Tuesday.

Meng Jianzhu, Chinese state councilor and public security minister, congratulated Kim during a visit to Pyongyang on his re-election in September as head of the ruling Korean Workers Party and the selection of his youngest son, Kim Jong Un, as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, which his father chairs, the Korean Central News Agency said.

The guest from China, North Korea's only major international ally, 'hailed the successful solution of the issue of succession to the Korean revolution,' the report said.

Kim Jong Un has long been seen as the eventual leader of the Stalinist state. At the September meeting of the Workers Party, the largest in 30 years, he was named to a number of top posts, including being make a member of the party's Central Committee and a four-star general.

Analysts said China's support of the leadership plans from China, North Korea's main political and economic supporter, is seen as crucial for the power succession.

The elder Kim, who, according to his official biography, is to turn 69 Wednesday, had a stroke in 2008 and continues to suffer poor health, according to intelligence reports.

Little is known about his youngest son, who is believed to be in his late 20s, but his appointments in September were similar to the appointments his father received during the previous party meeting in 1980.

He eventually took over from his own father when Kim Il Sung died in 1994.

Meng met Kim Jong Il Monday in Pyongyang and extended greetings from Chinese President Hu Jintao, the Korean Central News Agency said.

North Korea was the first stop on a trip that is to take Meng to Laos, Singapore and Malaysia.

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