SEOUL, (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has signalled the anointment of his youngest son as heir to the ruling family dynasty, South Korean media said yesterday as the rival Koreas built up their forces along a disputed sea border.
North Korea, whose military posturing after last week’s nuclear test prompted U.S. and South Korean forces to raise the alert level, is readying mid-range missiles for test launches, the South’s Yonhap news agency reported a lawmaker as saying after a defense briefing.
But in Washington, a senior U.S. official said North Korea would probably ease tensions now that the succession issue appeared to have been settled and said Pyongyang would likely return to six-party talks.
