SEOUL, South Korea — Kim Jong Il's youngest son — a 26-year-old who reportedly enjoys skiing and studied English, German and French at a Swiss boarding school — was named North Korea's next leader in an announcement to top ruling party, government and military officials, a South Korean lawmaker and newspapers said today,

The announcement naming Kim Jong Un to eventually succeed his father was sent after North Korea's May 25 nuclear test, the Hankook Ilbo newspaper reported, citing unnamed members of South Korea's parliamentary intelligence committee briefed by the spy agency. However, there were no signs Kim intended to step down anytime soon.

The Dong-a Ilbo newspaper carried a similar report, and said North Korea was teaching its people a song lauding the new "Commander Kim." The paper cited unidentified sources. The National Intelligence Service said it cannot confirm the reports.

The reports about North Korea paving the way for a new leader — the nation's third — comes at a time of mounting tensions over North Korea's April 5 rocket launch and the May 25 underground nuclear test, and indications that the North may be preparing to test-fire medium- and long-range missiles.

Analysts have suspected the saber-rattling is part of a campaign to build unity and support for a successor to 67-year-old Kim Jong Il, who reportedly suffered a stroke last August. Kim has three sons but had not publicly named an heir to lead the nation of 49 million.

After disappearing from the public eye for weeks last fall, Kim re-emerged to make a busy round of trips nationwide and made his first state appearance in months at the delayed opening session of the country's new legislature April 12.