North Korea ? North Korea told its diplomatic missions that Kim Jong Il’s youngest son — who reportedly enjoys skiing and studied English, German and French at a Swiss school — will be the nation’s next leader, a South Korean lawmaker and newspapers said today.

The secretive communist state sent the message about the 26-year-old son, Jong Un, after the nation’s May 25 nuclear test, which along with a series of missile tests has greatly raised tensions in the region, the Hankook Ilbo reported.

The paper cited unnamed members of South Korea’s parliamentary intelligence committee briefed by the spy agency.

The spy agency, National Intelligence Service, said it cannot confirm the reports.

The possible transfer of power comes at a tense time as the North escalates tensions in the region by testing the nuclear device and several short-range missiles. Media reports say the North appears to be preparing a test launch of a long-range missile.

The saber-rattling is believed to be part of the North’s succession campaign, the papers said.