North Korean leader Kim Jong-il (fourth from the right) and his youngest son and heir apparent Jong-un (second from right) have made a rare public appearance at a military parade celebrating the 65th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party.

In an unprecedented live broadcast of the celebration Sunday, North Korean media showed the younger Kim standing next to his father and Ri Yong-ho, vice chairman of the party’s Central Military Commission.

The parade was aired by the North's Korean Central Broadcasting Station, Korean Central Television and Pyongyang Broadcasting Station.

Also attending the celebrations were People’s Armed Forces Minister Kim Yong-chun, parliamentary leader Kim Yong-nam and a Chinese delegation led by senior Communist Party member Zhou Yongkang.

A North Korean report says troops from the Korean People’s Army, Worker-Peasant Red Guards and Young Red Guards took part in the parade at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang.