North Korea declares Kim Jong-Un military chief

North Korea said today its new leader Kim Jong-Un has formally been appointed supreme commander of the 1.2 million-strong military, in another sign he is rapidly tightening his grip on power.

Jong-Un had already been declared "supreme leader" of the country during memorial ceremonies for his late father Kim Jong-Il on Thursday, as the nation ended 13 days of mourning.

"The dear respected Kim Jong-Un... assumed the supreme commandership of the Korean People's Army at the behest of leader Kim Jong-Il," according to the official news agency.

Kim Jong-Un

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t said the decision was proclaimed yesterday at a meeting of the political bureau of the ruling party's central committee.

Jong-Un, aged in his late 20s, was made a four-star general in September 2010 and given important party posts as his father groomed him for the country's second dynastic succession. He was swiftly proclaimed "great successor" after Kim senior died of a heart attack on December 17.

Reports following his father's death suggested Jong-Un was already in control of the armed forces. But today's statement was the first official confirmation of his accession to the role.

Jong-Un inherits the world's fourth largest armed forces and a national policy known as Songun that prioritises its welfare over that of civilians.

During Thursday's memorial service, ceremonial head of state Kim Yong-Nam told a vast crowd in Pyongyang that the country under its new chief would "march firmly along the path of Songun taught by great leader Kim Jong-Il".

The meeting yesterday of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) "underlined the need to hold Kim Jong-Un in high esteem as the only centre of unity, cohesion and leadership of the WPK, devotedly defend him politically and ideologically and give fuller play to the might of the political and ideological power", the news agency said.

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