N Korea's Kim 'elected' to seat

Kim Jong-il's father, Kim Il-sung, gave him power regardless of elections

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Il has been unanimously elected to a seat in North Korea's parliament.

State media has claimed a 100% turnout in Sunday's elections for the rubber-stamp Supreme People's Assembly.

Voting, which was compulsory, was for just one pre-approved candidate in each constituency.

Analysts are awaiting confirmation of reports that one of Mr Kim's sons was on the ballot, considered a clue to the reclusive state's succession plans.

Mr Kim, 67, was standing in military constituency 333, a lucky number in Korean.

The central election committee said "all the voters of Constituency No 333 participated in the election and voted for Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army Kim Jong-Il," the official Korean Central News Agency reported.

"This is the expression of all servicepersons' and people's absolute support and profound trust in Kim Jong-Il," it added, in the first official report on the elections' outcome.

Voting, and celebrations, are compulsory in North Korea

The new assembly is expected to confirm him as chairman of the National Defence Commission, the country's most powerful body.

Dancing soldiers

The BBC's correspondent in South Korea, John Sudworth, reported that North Korean state television was showing pictures of ranks of military officers dancing with each other outside one of the polling stations.

Inside, the soldiers were seen lining up to collect their ballot papers.

Without even glancing at the name of the single candidate listed in each constituency, they can be seen bowing to a portrait of the leader Kim Jong-Il before dutifully casting their votes.

But, North Korea watchers have been scrutinising this election for the possible emergence of one name - Kim Jong-un.

He is the 26 year old Swiss-educated third son of Kim Jong-Il and thought to be his father's most likely successor.

North Korean television concentrated on showing North Koreans cheering for Kim Jong-il and celebrating after voting.

There has been much speculation over the health of Kim Jong-il, after reports that he had a stroke last year.

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North Koreans cast their ballots