Kim Jong Il's son gets invite to China

SEOUL, March 5 (UPI) -- The likely successor to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has been formally invited to visit China, officials said.

Kim Jong Un is the youngest son of the North Korean leader and is expected to become the communist nation's next leader, the BBC reported.

News of the invitation was given to South Korean lawmakers in a security agency briefing. The report was not confirmed by Beijing.

It was not known when the visit would occur. Officials at the security briefing also said the North was tightening security because of the unrest in the Middle East.

Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo and Meng Jianzhu, minister of public security, apparently proffered the invitation during recent visits to North Korea.

Officials said it was likely the invitation would be accepted.

"But it remains unclear whether Kim Jong Un will visit China alone or simply accompany the leader," an unnamed source said in the BBC report.

China is North Korea's only major ally.