N. Korean successor's China visit and its effect on Korean Peninsula

SEOUL, May 20 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's heir-apparent son headed to China early Friday through the Chinese border city of Tumen, eight months after he appeared on public stage.
Kim Jong-un's trip is largely seen as a measured step by the North to get Beijing's endorsement for its back-to-back hereditary power succession and an attempt by the son to show off to the world his status as the heir.
The trip, being made by the son himself without his father, is also an effort by him to show the world that he can stand on his own and pad his stature as the next leader.
It has long been anticipated that the junior Kim will go to China for endorsement. The purpose of the travel, on top of its political and diplomatic significance, apparently includes expediting economic cooperation between North Korea and China. Economic cooperation between the two countries gained speed when Kim Jong-il toured through China in August last year. The visit by the son, analysts say, is to follow up on the agreements reached during his father's trip.
Close to Tumen, through which the junior Kim entered China, is Hunchun where a groundbreaking ceremony is planned for May 30 to build roads connecting the Chinese city with Rajin, one of North Korea's major ports. Linking the development of China's Jilin Province with the development of Rajin is one of the central economic cooperation projects between the two countries.
Kim Jong-un may well meet Vice Premier Xi Jinping during his visit in what would be a face-to-face meeting with the man standing in line to become the next Chinese leader. They, should they meet, will likely reaffirm traditional friendly relations between their countries and address issues related to their economic ties.
Despite disapproving eyes of the international community, China has accepted Kim Jong-un's succession to power, probably for the reason that the North's stability is strategically crucial for its security. Chances are high that with Kim Jong-un's visit, China's influence on North Korea will become stronger as will bilateral security and economic relations. This is why South Korea needs to be attentive to the visit and how North Korea-China ties would unfold.
The South Korean government appears to be closely watching Kim Jong-un's China travel but it apparently refuses to read too much into it. In the short term, the junior Kim's trip may bring on negative effects on inter-Korean relations as Pyongyang sees no need to buckle to the South.
But some say something positive may come out of the visit. As one analyst put it, China is likely to demand through Kim Jong-un's visit that the North open up and reform and improve relations with the South. Others say the North will have more room to maneuver once its position shapes up more clearly in the outside world.
The South Korean government would need to monitor closely how the transitioning in North Korea will affect the situation on the Korean Peninsula.