The eldest son of Kim Jong-il, North Korea's reclusive leader, has expressed opposition to hereditary transfer of power to a third generation of his family, just days after his brother has been chosen by their father as heir. But he wished his brother the best in his new career.

Kim Jong-nam's remarks come days after North Korea unveiled Kim Jong-un as successor to his father at a large military parade in Pyongyang, the country's capital.

"Personally, I am against third-generation dynastic succession," Kim Jong-nam said in an interview with Japan's TV Asahi on Sunday, the day before the parade where his brother took centre-stage and made his national and international debut.