A leading French daily says North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is visiting China to secure Beijing’s support for Pyongyang’s planned power succession.

Le Figaro said Saturday that Kim’s visit to China, the second in three months, suggests that major changes are expected to take place in the North’s political situation or diplomatic strategy.

The paper said a planned power succession is likely to be among those major changes. The report said that if Kim’s heir-apparent, Jong-un, is confirmed to be accompanying his father in this trip, plans for power succession are likely to gain speed.

The report added that Kim also apparently made the visit in order to get economic aid from China and assistance for flood damages at a time when the international community has imposed stern sanctions on the communist state.