North Korea's regional neighbors react to leader Kim Jong-il's untested son being made second in command of the state's powerful military commission. Analysts believe it is the first step in a likely transfer of power from father to son.

These are pictures of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party congress on Tuesday, in what was the biggest political gathering in the state in 30 years.

Before the meeting started, it was announced that North Korean leader Kim Jong-Ii's son had been made second in command to his father at the Workers' Party powerful Central Military Commission.

Analysts believe the promotion of Kim Jong-Un is the first step in a likely transfer of the North Korean leadership from father to son.

North Asian regional powers reacted to the news Wednesday, with South Korea saying it would continue to closely monitor any developments in the North.

[Lee Jong-Joo, South Korea's Unification Ministry Spokesperson]:
"We will not assess or judge the outcome of the meeting, but we will cautiously and closely watch how North Korea's new leadership would influence their policies domestically and internationally."

Meanwhile Japan expressed reservations about the likely succession of Kim Jong-Un.

[Yoshito Sengoku, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary]:
"We feel the method [of choosing the North Korean leadership] is slightly bizarre, but it resembles that of when [Kim Jong-il] was chosen. However I think it's still too early to say whether this process has been confirmed as we don't really know what happened."

Although Kim Jong-Il's health is deteriorating, he is not expected to retire just yet.

But even with a new leader, analysts say North Korea is unlikely to give up its nuclear ambitions.