Little is known about what happens in the most secret country of the world, but since Kim Jong-il suffered a stroke in last August, there have been some movements that were quickly interpreted by observers as a succession race.

According to South Korean experts, this could explain why North Korea has hardened its stance towards the international community by making an underground nuclear test and launching low-range missiles yesterday, in violation of the United Nations' resolutions: Kim Jong-il might be tightening further the iron fist with which he governed the country in order to gain the support of the army and strengthen the legitimacy of his dynasty before naming a successor.

Potential candidates to the throne are his three sons and his brother in law Jang Seong-taek.