The Defense Ministry says North Korea appears to be on an accelerated path to succession.

A ministry official told the National Assembly on Thursday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has been engaging in frequent public appearances with his son, Kim Jong-un, in what appear to be preparations for a hereditary power transition.

The official added that the North Korean military, despite its firing of two shots at South Korean guard posts near the inter-Korean border, has shown no unusual movements of late.

The official, addressing the issue of ship hijackings at sea, said that Somali pirates continue to pose a significant threat to South Korean vessels. According to the official, there were 228 pirate attacks at sea, a drop from the 306 from last year. However, the number of kidnapped ships went from 34 to 36.