North Korea is seeing its second transition of power since its founding after the second world war, and it may be its last. Most Korea-watchers see this week’s meeting of the delegates of the Korean Workers’ People’s Congress as a probable move to pave the way to designate Kim Jong-un, Kim Jong-il’s twenty-something son, as his successor.

The elder Kim has already begun laying the groundwork. His bureaucratic reshuffling in 2009 was seen as enhancing the authority of his brother-in-law, Chang Song-taek. He is regarded as a potential regent, who may be entrusted with sustaining the viability of the state while his charge builds his own power base.

Kim Jong-il has also visited China twice in the past four months, causing many to speculate he is seeking Beijing’s approval of his succession plans. While China’s views are unclear, there is speculation it would prefer the known quantity of Mr Chang. Given North Korea’s economic and political dependence on China, Beijing’s opinion on this matters.