<p><br /> North Korea has marked its 62nd anniversary with patriotic songs admiring leader Kim Jong Il, amid uncertainty over whether the secretive country has begun a rare political meeting believed to be aimed at promoting one of Kim's sons as his successor.<br /> </p><p><br /> Thousands marked the anniversary by placing flowers at the foot of a giant statue of North Korea founder Kim Il Sung, with national flags decorating many street corners.<br /> </p><p><br /> Posters were also put up announcing the Workers' Party meeting, although an exact date for the gathering had not yet been disclosed.<br /> </p><p><br /> State media reported on Monday that delegates were gathering in Pyongyang to elect new party leaders in what would be North Korea's first major political conference in 30 years.<br /> </p><p><br /> Analysts believe Kim will use the conference to give his third and youngest son, Kim Jong Un, a key party position in efforts to hand over power to him and extend the Kim dynasty into a third generation.<br /> </p><p><br /> Kim Jong Il himself took over leadership after his father Kim Il Sung, died of heart failure in 1994 - a handover that was communism's first hereditary transfer of power.<br /> </p><p><br /> North Korea watchers say the meeting may have been postponed because of Kim Jong Il's deteriorating health and recent devastating flooding.<br /> </p>
