Kim Jong-un, the son and heir apparent of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, attended a state meeting between his father and Lao President Choummaly Sayasone in Pyongyang on Friday. It is the first time that Kim Junior has been by his father's side in a summit since he was anointed heir a year ago.

From left, Kim Jong-un, Lao President Choummaly Sayasone and Kim Jong-il /KCNA-Yonhap

In a photo released Sunday by the official [North] Korean Central News Agency, Kim Jong-un posed with his father and the Laos president after the summit. The picture proves his status as No. 2 in the reclusive regime, a South Korean Unification Ministry official said, and shows he is now expanding his experiences to include diplomacy.

The KCNA did not say where the photo was taken.