North Korea’s Kim Jong Il has officially named his heavy-drinking, English-speaking 26-year-old son as the next leader.

North Korea appears to be preparing to test an advanced missile designed to reach the United States, a US official said, ratcheting up tensions after its second nuclear blast.

The third son of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has been assigned to a post at the country’s all-powerful National Defence Commission, it was reported, a possible sign that he is being groomed as his father’s successor.

North Koreans went to the polls today to elect MPs to the country’s rubber-stamp parliament as observers watched closely for hints that leader Kim Jong Il may be grooming a successor.