Jang Song Taek

BEIJING - China and North Korea are speeding development of two special economic zones in a bid to shore up North Korea's crumbling economy. Chinese state media reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's uncle Jang Song Taek met with Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming this week to sign agreements over development of the trade zones, which are on the border with China. China is North Korea's chief ally, providing aid and anchoring a $5.7-billion trade relationship. North Korea, which is under United Nations sanctions because of its nuclear weapons program, has an economy valued at about $40 billion.

BEIJING - China and North Korea are speeding development of two special economic zones in a bid to shore up North Korea's crumbling economy. Chinese state media reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's uncle Jang Song Taek met with Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming this week to sign agreements over development of the trade zones, which are on the border with China. China is North Korea's chief ally, providing aid and anchoring a $5.7-billion trade relationship. North Korea, which is under United Nations sanctions because of its nuclear weapons program, has an economy valued at about $40 billion.

He is an enigma from the world's most secretive state, a behind-the-scenes political operative known mostly as a trusted brother-in-law to North Korean strongman Kim Jong Il. But Jang Song Taek has recently emerged as a decisive player in the drama of who might succeed the ailing 67-year-old Kim in a country that remains defiant in the face of international pressure to dismantle its nuclear arsenal.

On a snowy, overcast day, North Korea bid farewell to "Dear Leader" Kim Jong Il and ushered in a new era of leadership Wednesday under his chosen successor and youngest son. But as so often happens with the secretive state, the funeral services were kept largely away from the prying eyes of foreigners. How the son handles himself will provide a signal of his capabilities to lead North Korea. His goal will be to show that order has been maintained and that the affairs of state go on, experts say. PHOTOS: World reaction to Kim Jong Il's death North Korea's government-controlled media have in recent days bestowed numerous titles on Kim Jong Un, an apparent paving of the way for his assuming command.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's brother-in-law was elevated Monday to the second-most powerful position in the leadership, a reshuffling of personnel intended to consolidate the ruling family's grip on the country. The promotion of Jang Song Taek, 64, long believed to be one of the most powerful men behind the scenes in North Korea, was announced after an unexpected meeting of the Supreme People's Assembly, presided over by the ailing Kim. A longtime family confidant, 81-year-old Choe Yong Rim, was named prime minister, a largely ceremonial post.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's youngest son has been named a four-star general, a promotion that paved the way for his advance in the ranks but stopped short of installing him as next in line to run the impoverished communist country. On Monday, the eve of a rare congress of the ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang, the official Korea Central News Agency announced the appointment of Kim Jong Eun, a mysterious figure who is believed to be 27 years old and to have been educated in Switzerland.

On a snowy, overcast day, North Korea bid farewell to "Dear Leader" Kim Jong Il and ushered in a new era of leadership Wednesday under his chosen successor and youngest son. But as so often happens with the secretive state, the funeral services were kept largely away from the prying eyes of foreigners. How the son handles himself will provide a signal of his capabilities to lead North Korea. His goal will be to show that order has been maintained and that the affairs of state go on, experts say. PHOTOS: World reaction to Kim Jong Il's death North Korea's government-controlled media have in recent days bestowed numerous titles on Kim Jong Un, an apparent paving of the way for his assuming command.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il left the family business in terrible shape. Under his leadership over the last 17 years, about 2 million people, almost 10% of his country's population, died of hunger. North Korea developed nuclear weapons, but its people sank ever deeper into poverty and isolation, even while patron and next-door neighbor China charged ahead with its economic miracle. His youngest son, Kim Jong Un, was only recently named to succeed him and is still in his 20s. He has before him what seems an impossible task for a baby-faced young man who just a decade ago was attending high school in Switzerland: Rescue a failed state, and perpetuate the family dynasty into a third generation.

In the aftermath of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's visit last month, Chinese companies in recent days have held a series of low-key groundbreaking ceremonies across the border for projects designed to jump-start the moribund North Korean economy. The North Korean regime, largely out of desperation, has leased parcels of its territory to the Chinese. The parcels include grassy islands in the Yalu River, near the crossing made famous in 1950 when China intervened in its communist neighbor's behalf in the Korean War; and ports at the northern tip of the country that will give China access to the Sea of Japan through North Korea for the first time in 150 years.

Kim Jong Il's youngest son was named to senior positions within the ruling Workers' Party on Tuesday, another sign from the reclusive state that the mysterious twentysomething will soon succeed his father to become the next leader of North Korea. North Korea's state-controlled news agency reported that Kim Jong Eun was named to the party's Central Committee, and he also was appointed vice chairman of the military committee. The North Koreans appeared to be following a template from 1980, the last time the secretive regime held a major party congress and elected Kim Jong Il to virtually the same positions to groom him as successor to his father, North Korea's founder Kim Il Sung.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il left the family business in terrible shape. Under his leadership over the last 17 years, about 2 million people, almost 10% of his country's population, died of hunger. North Korea developed nuclear weapons, but its people sank ever deeper into poverty and isolation, even while patron and next-door neighbor China charged ahead with its economic miracle. His youngest son, Kim Jong Un, was only recently named to succeed him and is still in his 20s. He has before him what seems an impossible task for a baby-faced young man who just a decade ago was attending high school in Switzerland: Rescue a failed state, and perpetuate the family dynasty into a third generation.

In the aftermath of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's visit last month, Chinese companies in recent days have held a series of low-key groundbreaking ceremonies across the border for projects designed to jump-start the moribund North Korean economy. The North Korean regime, largely out of desperation, has leased parcels of its territory to the Chinese. The parcels include grassy islands in the Yalu River, near the crossing made famous in 1950 when China intervened in its communist neighbor's behalf in the Korean War; and ports at the northern tip of the country that will give China access to the Sea of Japan through North Korea for the first time in 150 years.

Kim Jong Il's youngest son was named to senior positions within the ruling Workers' Party on Tuesday, another sign from the reclusive state that the mysterious twentysomething will soon succeed his father to become the next leader of North Korea. North Korea's state-controlled news agency reported that Kim Jong Eun was named to the party's Central Committee, and he also was appointed vice chairman of the military committee. The North Koreans appeared to be following a template from 1980, the last time the secretive regime held a major party congress and elected Kim Jong Il to virtually the same positions to groom him as successor to his father, North Korea's founder Kim Il Sung.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's youngest son has been named a four-star general, a promotion that paved the way for his advance in the ranks but stopped short of installing him as next in line to run the impoverished communist country. On Monday, the eve of a rare congress of the ruling Workers' Party in Pyongyang, the official Korea Central News Agency announced the appointment of Kim Jong Eun, a mysterious figure who is believed to be 27 years old and to have been educated in Switzerland.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's brother-in-law was elevated Monday to the second-most powerful position in the leadership, a reshuffling of personnel intended to consolidate the ruling family's grip on the country. The promotion of Jang Song Taek, 64, long believed to be one of the most powerful men behind the scenes in North Korea, was announced after an unexpected meeting of the Supreme People's Assembly, presided over by the ailing Kim. A longtime family confidant, 81-year-old Choe Yong Rim, was named prime minister, a largely ceremonial post.

He is an enigma from the world's most secretive state, a behind-the-scenes political operative known mostly as a trusted brother-in-law to North Korean strongman Kim Jong Il. But Jang Song Taek has recently emerged as a decisive player in the drama of who might succeed the ailing 67-year-old Kim in a country that remains defiant in the face of international pressure to dismantle its nuclear arsenal.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has promoted a trusted in-law, the clearest sign yet he is making preparations for a successor, analysts said. Kim appointed brother-in-law Jang Song Taek to the all-powerful National Defense Commission, providing analysts with clues about what the future may hold for the nation. The appointment shows that Kim is trying to prepare for his eventual departure and pave the way to hand power to one of his sons, analysts said, just as he inherited the mantle from his late father and North Korea's founder, Kim Il Sung.

Chinese President Hu Jintao promised North Korean leader Kim Jong Il help in developing the North's economy and Kim spoke of his desire to restart nuclear talks during a summit Friday in the northeastern Chinese city of Changchun, the Chinese government said Monday. The belated announcement put an end to a five-day state visit that was bizarrely secretive even by the standards of the 68-year-old Kim, one of the world's most reclusive rulers. Kim slipped across the border into China in his armored train early Thursday, eluding detection by border residents and journalists and giving a very public snub to former President Carter, who was in Pyongyang to successfully win the release of Aijalon Mahli Gomes, an American held since January for illegally entering the country.