Kim retains his position as North Korean chief

North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly (parliament) reelected Kim Il Sung President Feb. 28, according to Pyongyang Radio monitored here. But in a surprise move, the assembly did not appoint his son, Kim Jong Il as vice-president and eventual successor to his father. Instead the incumbent, Pak Sung-Chul, retained his position, according to the North Korean Central News Agency. Korea watchers assumed the younger Kim would take the place of Mr. Pak because prior to the assembly he was no longer described as a vice president in the country's officials media.