Did North Korea Heir Apparent accompany father to China?

A source familiar with North Korean issues said Monday, "Kim Jong Il’s visit to China [is related to] the six-party nuclear talks ... But he is also taking the succession issue seriously. I heard North Korea informed China that Kim Jong Il will go with his son Jong Un."

If Kim Jong Un accompanied his father to China, that could mean the leader`s health is worse than believed, certain experts say. In other words, Kim Jong Il might have grown impatient over succession due to his health problems.

Whether Beijing will say the heir apparent accompanied his father, and unveil what he looks like remain to be seen. China could choose not to anger North Korea by not releasing photos of Kim Jong Un.

Dong-a Ilbo

Kim Jong-il arrives in China via armored train

Kim Jong-il has arrived in China on a 17-carriage armored train on a trip to his country's sole major ally that could lead to the revival of stalled nuclear talks.

It is Kim's first trip in more than four years to China, the North's main source of finance, food and fuel and which is seen as one of the few nations able to put pressure on Pyongyang's hardline regime.

Kim, who is said to dislike air travel, has visited China four times since 2000 by train. The last trip in January 2006 was shrouded in secrecy and only formally announced after it had ended.

The visit comes after Chinese president Hu Jintao met South Korean president Lee Myung-Bak on Friday and also held talks with North Korea's number two leader Kim Yong-Nam on the sidelines of the World Expo in Shanghai.

Kim is expected to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao to discuss economic assistance and the North's return to the six-party nuclear talks. It remains to be seen whether they will discuss the sinking of the South Korean Navy corvette Cheonan and whether Kim Jong-un, Kim's son and heir apparent, accompanies him.

Another government official said, "We assume that Kim decided to visit China before the ongoing investigation of the Cheonan sinking is released."