(CNN) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has added his brother-in-law to a military board in a move analysts say paves the way for an heir, according to South Korea's state-sponsored Yonhap news agency. 

Kim Jong-il has named his brother-in-law Jang Song Thaek to a top military board. 

The addition of his kin to the powerful National Defense Commission also solidifies his standing, Yonhap said. 

Kim was reappointed Thursday as chairman of the military board in his first major public appearance since a reported stroke in August. His brother-in-law, Jang Song Thaek, is considered his right-hand man, according to Yonhap. 

Jang, who has been married to Kim's sister since 1972, currently serves as a director of the Workers' Party, Yonhap said. 

"Kim wants to keep the military in check and secure loyalty to both the military and the party," Cha Doo-hyeogn, a North Korea expert, told Yonhap. 

Kim also increased the number of members in the military agency to 13, from eight, Yonhap said. 

"Overall, the power of the National Defense Commission was strengthened," Seoul's Unification Ministry spokesman, Kim Ho-nyoun, told Yonhap in a briefing. 

There were no other major changes in the new parliament, which signifies that Kim, 67, is prepared to maintain the status quo as he readies someone to take over from him, analysts told Yonhap. 

Kim's recent health problems and long absence from public functions have prompted speculation on whether he is ready to groom an heir to the world's only communist dynasty. But the secretive nation shields its internal affairs from international scrutiny.  QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. What was wrong with Kim Jong-il's health?
2. What health issues did Kim Jong-il encounter?
3. What sort of health problems has Kim Jong-il been faced with?
Q2:
1. Who did Kim Jong-il name to the top military board?
2. Who did Kim Jong-il give a position at the top military board?
3. Who did Kim Jong-il appoint to the highest military board?
Q3:
1. What's the name of Kim Jong-il's brother in law?
2. Who is Kim Jong-il's brother in law?
3. Who is married to Kim Jong-il's sister?
Q4:
1. Who does Kim Jong-il consider to be his right hand man?
2. Who is viewed as the right hand man of Kim Jong-il?
3. Who is an essential ally of Kim Jong-il?
Q5:
1. How long has Jang Song Thaek been married to Kim Jong-il's sister?
2. For how many years have Jang Song Thaek and Kim Jong-il's sister been married?
3. How mamny years has the marriage between Kim Jong-il's sister and Jang Song Thaek lasted?
Q6:
1. Who is Jang Song Thaek?
2. What does Jang Song Thaek do?
3. Whta title and role does Jang Song Thaek have?
Q7:
1. Were there any changes to North Korean parliament?
2. Did the North Korean parliament undergo any changes?
3. Was anything going to be done differently in the parliament of North Korea?
Q8:
1. How many members did Kim Jong-il add to the military agency?
2. How many people did Kim Jong-il increase the military agency by?
3. How many extra people were appointed to the military agency by Kim Jong-il?
Q9:
1. What is Kim Jong-il's level of activity in public functions?
2. How often does Kim Jong-il appear in public?
3. How frequently is Kim Jong-il seen in public functions?
Q10:
1. What is the gossip about what Kim Jong-il is preparing?
2. What do people speculate that Kim Jong-il is about to do?
3. What does it seem like Kim Jong-il is getting ready to do?
Q11:
1. According to analysts, what paves a way for an heir to Kim Jong-il?
2. What is making a path for Kim Jong-il's heir, according to analysts?
3. What do analysts believe is creating space for an heir to Kim Jong-il?
Q12:
1. What was Kim Jong-il reappointed as?
2. What was the title that Kim Jong-il was reappointed to?
3. What title did Kim Jong-il receive again?
Q13:
1. What did Kim Ho-nyoun talk to Yonhap about in a briefing?
2. What was the subject of Kim Ho-nyoun's comments to Yonhap in the briefing?
3. What did Kim Ho-nyoun disclose to Yonhap in the context of a briefing?
