N. Korea`s Heir Apparent Makes 1st Public Appearance

The heir apparent to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il attended Sunday a massive military parade marking the 65th anniversary of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party in Pyongyang.

Kim Jong Un’s appearance is interpreted as a visual declaration of his designation as successor.

At 10 a.m., North Korean media aired live a military parade at Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung Square. A South Korean official said this was the first time for North Korean media to provide live coverage of an event attended by Kim Jong Il.

Some 80 members of foreign media are said to have covered the parade live at Pyongyang’s invitation.

On the reviewing stand, Kim Jong Un sat next to Ri Yong Ho, chief of the general staff of the North Korean military, on the left of Kim Jong Il. On the junior Kim’s left was Korean People’s Army Minister Kim Yong Chun, Korean People’s Army Marshal Ri Ul Sol, National Defense Commission Vice Chairman Ri Yong Mu, People’s Security Minister Ju Sang Song, and National Defense Commission Vice Chairman Jang Sung Taek, who is also Kim Jong Il’s brother-in-law.

To the North Korean leader’s right was Zhou Yongkang, a senior leader of the Chinese Community Party, the North’s titular leader and parliamentary chief Kim Yong Nam, Cabinet Premier Choe Yong Rim, senior Workers’ Party leader Kim Chol Man, and Kim Jong Il’s younger sister Kim Kyong Hui.

North Korean TV showed missile-mounted vehicles, tanks and other armored vehicles but did not show the types of weapons. An official in Seoul said missiles and tanks had been shown at anniversary events of the Korean People’s Army but this was the first time for them to appear at a celebration of the Workers’ Party’s anniversary.

will71@donga.com