A Japanese daily says the North Korean military has selected North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's youngest son, Jong-un, as Kim's successor.

Citing a source close to the Pyongyang regime, the Mainichi Shimbun daily said a key organ of the North Korean military early last month chose the 26-year-old son as the heir and conveyed its decision to military insiders.

The paper also quoted a diplomat in Beijing as saying that Jong-un will run for office for an electoral district in North Pyeongan Province in the March eighth parliamentary elections.

Mainichi expected the rivalry between Jong-un --- backed by the military --- and second son Jong-chol --- a top official of the Workers' Party --- to intensify.