北韩领导人金正日将他的妹夫张成泽提升进入权力很大的国防委员会。从而引发人们猜测金正日开始为他的接班人做准备。
这项任命确认张成泽成为未正式宣布的金正日的副手。
分析人士说，如果金正日突然去世，63岁的张成泽很可能暂时接替最高领导人的职位。他们说，张成泽的作用是协助把权力过渡到金正日的3个儿子中的一个。张成泽在北韩的最高人民会议新一届会议期间得到这一任命。
在这几天前，北韩刚刚进行了引起争议的火箭发射。平壤说，它将一颗卫星送入轨道，但是美国、日本和其它一些国家说，那是一次弹道导弹试射。
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has promoted his brother-in-law Jang Song Thaek to the powerful National Defense Commission, sparking speculation he is preparing for his successor.
The appointment confirms Jang’s unofficial role as Mr. Kim’s second-in-command.
Analysts say the 63-year old is likely to be a caretaker leader should Mr. Kim suddenly pass away. They say Jang’s role will be to support a possible transition of power and to prepare one of Mr. Kim’s three sons for leadership.
Jang’s appointment took place during the opening of a new parliamentary session just days after North Korea sparked controversy with a rocket launch. Pyongyang says it launched a satellite into orbit but the United States, Japan, and others say it was a ballistic missile test.