Kim's son pays respects as world reads tea leaves on transition

Dec 20, 2011, 7:17 GMT

Seoul - The youngest son and heir apparent of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il visited his father's body, the state news agency said Tuesday.

Kim Jong Un paid his respects with party, government and military officials in Pyongyang 'and expressed condolences with the deepest sorrow,' the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said a day after the announcement of the elder Kim's death.

News from the isolated, tightly controlled communist state was being watched closely in the wake of Kim Jong Il's death for signs of how smooth the transition of power would be.

In a message released on KCNA Monday, the government, military and ruling party called Kim Jong Un the 'great successor,' 'respected' and an 'outstanding' and 'wise' leader.

'All the party members, servicepersons and people should remain loyal to the guidance of respected Kim Jong Un and firmly protect and further cement the single-minded unity of the party, the army and the people,' the message said.

Concerns prevailed, however, that a power vacuum and infighting could results because the young Kim, who is believed to be in his late 20s, had not had much time to prepare for his role as North Korea's leader and had yet to solidify support from within the powerful military, one of the world's largest, and the ruling Korean Workers Party.

Kim Jong Un received early backing from China, North Korea's only major ally.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi visited North Korea's embassy in Beijing late Monday and said China believed North Korea's people would 'remain united with the leadership of the Workers Party of Korea and Kim Jong Un [and] turn their sorrow into strength,' the official Xinhua news agency said.

President Hu Jintao visited the embassy himself Tuesday to express his condolences, Xinhua said.

The condolence visit by such a high-ranking official was an important gesture of political support for North Korea, whose reliance on its powerful neighbour has risen sharply in recent years.

Kim Jong Il died Saturday of a heart attack at 69, state media said. Since the announcement, they have shown pictures and video of mourners weeping and collapsing in grief. Photographs of his body lying in state surrounded by red flowers were also released Tuesday.

A period of mourning would continue through December 29, and a funeral was planned for December 28.