Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara has issued a cautious response to reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s youngest son is on the path to succeeding his father.

Kyodo News quoted Maehara as telling reporters Wednesday that it is too early to come to any conclusions about the North’s recent promotions and appointments regarding Kim Jong-un.

Japan is expected to focus on any changes within the communist state regarding its nuclear and missile programs as well as on the issue of Japanese abductees in the North.

Also on Wednesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku told reporters that it is too early to say that Kim Jong-un’s recent appointments to top posts in the North’s ruling party means that Kim Jong-il has named his third son his heir.