N. Korea's heir apparent Kim Jong-un visits China: source

(ATTN: UPDATES with background in paras 3-6; CHANGES dateline) SEOUL/BEIJING, May 20 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's heir apparent son, Kim Jong-un, has been confirmed to be visiting China, a source in a Chinese border city said Friday. The junior Kim arrived in Tumen, in the northeastern Chinese province of Jilin, early Friday morning, but his next destination has yet to be confirmed, the source in Tumen told Yonhap News Agency. The source asked not to be identified, citing the issue's sensitivity. Security has been tightened considerably in Tumen and areas linking the Chinese city with North Korean border, the source added. A ranking government official in Seoul said that the North's presumed heir may have certainly arrived in China considering circumstances observed so far, noting he is unlikely to travel to Beijing. "We believe that Kim Jong-un arrived in China early this morning, though it will take more time to confirm the visit," said the Seoul official. "It remains to be seen whether he was traveling alone or together with Kim Jong-il. But it is believed thus far that he was visiting China alone. His final destination doesn't appear to be Beijing." The trip marks the younger Kim's first Chinese visit since the North Korean leader named his youngest son vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Worker's Party and a four-star general last September for what could be another hereditary power succession. The trip is widely seen as China's seal of approval for what would mark the communist regime's second hereditary power succession. Kim Jong-il has ruled the North with an iron fist since 1994 when he took over the country of 24 million people after the death of his father, the North's founder Kim Il-sung. China is the North's last remaining ally and benefactor and has hosted international talks on ending Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programs since 2003.