Kim Jong Il's son as 'successor'
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il visited factories as part of his push to develop the economy, according to reports, amid media speculation that he has named his youngest son to succeed him as head of the Stalinist nation.
But another report said his eldest son was poised to step in as a figurehead, reflecting uncertainty over who will succeed Mr Kim, who turns 67 next month.
Rumours have swirled for years that Mr Kim would nominate one of his three sons as a successor, following the tradition begun when he inherited the leadership from his father, North Korea's founder Kim Il Sung.
Reports that Kim Jong Il suffered a stroke in mid-August heightened speculation about a successor.
Mr Kim will hand leadership over to Swiss-educated Kim Jong Un, who is in his mid-20s, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said, citing an unidentified intelligence source.
The powerful Workers' Party was informed about a week ago, the report said.
Kim Jong Un was born to Kim Jong Il's late wife Ko Yong Hi. Ko had another son, Kim Jong Chol, but the father reportedly doesn't favour the middle son as a possible leader.
The National Intelligence Service, Seoul's top spy agency, said it could not confirm the report.
