N. Korean leader, heir apparent son appear in military parade

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il appeared in a military parade in Pyongyang along with his heir apparent son as the communist country celebrated the 63rd anniversary of its founding, the state media reported Friday. Kim and his youngest son, Jong-un, clapped their hands in the reviewing stand at Kim Il-sung Square as columns of motorized units displayed howitzers, multiple launch rocket systems and other military hardware, according to footage of the North's TV and Korean Central News Agency. The live footage showed that Kim, wearing his typical khaki Mao suit and sunglasses, appeared to be healthy. In 2008, Kim failed to appear in a military parade for the North's 60th founding anniversary, sparking speculation on his health. The North Korean leader apparently suffered a stroke in 2008, though his health has since appeared to have improved. Last year, Kim and his heir apparent son also reviewed a massive military parade that marked the 65th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party. "Kim's public appearance would help him quell lingering concerns about his health and convince its people as well as the outside world that he remains the supreme leader," said Kim Yong-hyun, a North Korea expert at Dongguk University. The North Korean leader named Jong-un vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the North's ruling Workers' Party and a four-star general last year in the clearest sign yet make his son the next leader. The succession, if made, would mark communism's second hereditary power transfer. The elder Kim inherited power from his father, the country's founder Kim Il-sung, who died in 1994. The anniversary comes amid a diplomatic push to resume long-stalled talks on ending Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programs. South Korea's nuclear envoy, Wi Sung-lac, met with U.S. officials this week in Washington to discuss the matter. Kim expressed his willingness to rejoin the six-nation nuclear disarmament talks during his summit with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Siberia last month. Still, Seoul and Washington demand the North first take initial steps toward denuclearization before resuming the nuclear talks that also involve China, Russia and Japan. The North's symbolic show of force also comes a day after the South Korean President Lee said he was open to a summit with the North's leader. "I may or may not hold an inter-Korean summit during my term," Lee said during a nationally televised panel discussion on Thursday. "If a summit is going to be held, there should be a guarantee that (North Korea) will bring peace to the Korean Peninsula and won't make provocations." Also Friday, the North Korean leader visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, where the embalmed body of Kim Il-sung lies, according to the KCNA.