N Korean official confirms heir's succession

A senior North Korean official has given the first public confirmation that the youngest son of veteran leader Kim Jong-Il will succeed his father, The Associated Press reported yesterday.
Yang Hyong-Sop confirmed the eventual ascent to power of Kim Jong-Un in an interview in Pyongyang with AP's television affiliate APTN, the US news agency reported.
The reported remarks by Yang, a leading ruling party member, marked the first time that a North Korean official has spoken openly about what will be the nuclear-armed nation's second dynastic succession.
"Our people take pride in the fact that they are blessed with great leaders from generation to generation," The Associated Press quoted Yang as saying in the interview.
"Our people are honoured to serve the great President Kim Il-Sung and the great leader Kim Jong-Il," he added. "Now we also have the honour of serving young General Kim Jong-Un."
Jong-Un, believed aged about 27, was last week appointed a four-star general and given powerful party posts, apparently confirming his status as leader-in-waiting to his ageing and ailing father.
Yang is a member of the political bureau of the central committee of the Workers' Party and vice president of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, the country's parliament.
Kim Jong-Il took over from his own father and founding president Kim Il-Sung, who died in 1994.
The current leader, now 68, suffered a stroke two years ago and also reportedly suffers kidney problems, making a second succession more pressing.