Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Photo of North Korean Successor Released VOA News 30 September 2010 A screenshot of Kim Jong Un, the youngest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, and his heir apparent. Photo: Korean Central TV, Pyongyang A screenshot of Kim Jong Un, the youngest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, and his heir apparent. This week, Kim Jong Un, shown seated between two generals, was elevated to top political and military positions during a rare conference of North Korea's Worker's Party (KCTV, Pyongyang) North Korea has released a photograph of Kim Jong Un, the youngest son and heir apparent of leader Kim Jong Il. The photo was released Thursday by the regime's state-run news media. South Korea's Yonhap news agency identified a dark-haired man wearing a dark outfit as Kim Jong Un. He is seated in the front row of a group of leaders of the country's ruling Workers Party. This is the first official photo of Kim Jong Un, who was named to the Workers' Party central committee at this week's party conference. He was also appointed vice-chairman of the party's powerful central military commission, and commissioned a four-star general.  Very little is known about Kim Jong Un, even in North Korea, where his existence has been kept secret. He is believed to be 27 years old, and educated in Switzerland.  Observers say the son's rapid rise to power suggests his 68-year-old father is in ill health after reportedly suffering a stroke in 2008. Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters. .