Is this Kim Jong-il's mysterious heir? 'First photograph' of the man tipped to become North Korea's leader

A Japanese newspaper has published a photo of a man it claims is the youngest son and rarely seen successor to North Korea's ailing leader Kim Jong-il.

The photograph shows a well-dressed man standing alongside the leader during a visit to a steel factory in the country's north east, and has prompted intense speculation about the future of the Asia's final Communist dynasty.

If the claims made in the Rodong Sinmun newspaper are correct, the photo represents the first time Jong-un has been seen as an adult.

Heir-apparent: A man believed to be Kim Jong-il's son, far left, stands alongside the North Korean leader during a visit to a steel factory

It comes amid reports the 67-year-old 'Dear Leader' has been trying to introduce his son as his successor for months and asked the country's main bodies to pledge loyalty to him.



A great deal of mystery surrounds the 26-year-old, but North Korea's state-run media has been slowly raising his profile after his older brothers were said to have fallen out of favour with their father.

Uncertainty surrounds Jong-il's future, as his health is said to be worsening following a stroke in 2008. He also suffers from diabetes and kidney and heart disease.



Jong-Un is the second son of Jong-il's third wife, Ko Yong-Hee.

Born in 1983, he is believed to have attended an international school in Switzerland under a pseudonym.

His appearance is set to spark debate questions about the country's leadership amid reports it is preparing a third nuclear test.



Experts claim Jong-un will remain weak, vulnerable and at the mercy of the North's old guard for years, experts have said.

North Korea places great emphasis on seniority and the ruling elite around Kim Jong-il, mostly men beyond 70, are not about to take orders from the son, sources claim.



Last month it was claimed that Kim's sister has also been brought back to the forefront of power as he attempts to shore up the family regime.

After six years out of the public spotlight, Kim Kyong-Hui, 64, was added to a diagram of the North's power structure released by the South's unification ministry.

The diagram showed her overseeing light industries under the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.



Kyong-Hui's husband Jang Song-Thaek has strengthened his image as the leader's right-hand man amid speculation he will play the role of regent as the leader grooms Jong-Un, to take over.

Kim Jong-il is relying on his family more and more to exercise power, intelligence officials believe.

Kenji Fujimoto, a former personal chef to Kim Jong-il, has described the son as 'a chip off the old block' who closely resembles his father physically and in terms of personality.



