10-10-10 North Korea's giant military parade

North Korea's leader-in-waiting,the youngest son of ailing ruler Kim Jong-il,took center stage during a big military parade on Sunday,making his first national appearance in the secretive state.Kim Jong-un stood near his father on the dais,clapping and saluting thousands of goose-stepping soldiers,and reviewing missiles,tanks and artillery rockets.The young Kim's prominent role at the parade in Pyongyang's Kim Il-sung Square marked his military debut and showed his standing in one of the world's largest armies.Until his appointment as a general last month -- along with his naming to a key political post -- little was known about the young Kim other than that he was educated in Switzerland."The future of our country is rosy and bright because Kim Jong-un was elected vice chairman of the military commission of the Workers' Party," said a government official,who asked not to be identified."We have a proverb in Korean that great teachers produce great students and great parents produce great children."Kim Jong-il is healthy enough to lead our country and to give spot guidance in every field including economic,agricultural,industrial,military and arts." Kim Jong-il,68,is believed to have suffered a stroke in 2008 but he has shown no sign of losing his grip on power and was reappointed last month as secretary-general of the ruling Workers' Party.He stood for over an hour during the parade and waved to the crowds,but limped noticeably and reached to the balcony for support.State television broadcast the parade live,giving North Koreans their first real look at their next leader,known only to be in his mid- to late-20s.A stable succession would be a relief to North Korea's economically powerful neighbors -- China,South Korea and Japan -- which worry that a regime collapse could result in massive refugee flows and domestic unrest.