Instability factor remains in N. Korea: unification minister

SEOUL, Feb. 6 (Yonhap) -- Despite its perceived external stability, North Korea appears to have a remaining instability factor following the death of Kim Jong-il in December, Seoul's unification minister said Monday. The assessment came as North Korea's new leader Kim Jong-un, believed to be in his late 20s, appears to be concentrating efforts to consolidate the power he inherited from his father, Kim Jong-il. The new leader inspected 10 military units and other military-related fields out of 15 public appearances since December, Unification Minister Yu Woo-ik said, the latest sign that Kim will uphold his father's cherished military-first, or "songun," politics that channeled the country's scarce resources to the military. Military support is seen as crucial for the untested young leader in tightening his grip on power. "In appearances, the North seems to be maintaining stability, though it has not yet completely remove an instability factor," Yu told lawmakers at the National Assembly, without elaborating. Yu said the North has not overcome chronic economic and other problems as it continues to make efforts to build a personality cult around the new leader and his late father. North Korean officials and troops have pledged their allegiance to the young leader, the supreme commander of the country's 1.1 million-strong military. The North has also made efforts to boost production of light industries and agriculture, Yu said. The impoverished country has vowed to usher in a prosperous and powerful nation by this year that would mark the centennial of the birth of the country's late founder Kim Il-sung, grandfather of current leader Kim Jong-un. (END)