N. Korea missile test about transition

SEOUL, May 25 (UPI) -- Some analysts say North Korea's announced second nuclear explosion test may be mostly a show for its own people in a time of transition.

The New York Times reported that Pyongyang is seeking to shore up its own status amid North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's health problems.

The Times reported analysts said the nuclear test is a sign that Kim may be preparing for a transition.

The newspaper said observers widely believe that Kim will be succeeded by his youngest son, Kim Jong-un, which would continue the family dynasty to the third generation.

"Kim Jong-il wants to show that he has given his nation mighty nuclear power," said Yoon Deok-min, a senior researcher at the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security, a research organization in South Korea. "This test was absolutely a domestic demonstration."