[The Peninsula] Kim Jong-Un was "re-elected" as 's leader, state media said, as parliament met in a session closely watched for power shifts in the secretive regime following the shock execution of his once-powerful uncle.
The new parliament is expected to endorse personnel changes that observers say are likely to affect a number of officials linked to his "traitor" uncle Jang Song-Thaek, once the North's unofficial number two and Kim's political mentor.
Kim was reaffirmed as First Chairman of the powerful National Defence Commission (NDC) by the new parliament, in a show of "absolute support and trust of all service personnel and people in him," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
The rubber-stamp assembly -- the first under the leadership of Kim who took over from his father in December 2011 -- gathered after North Koreans last month cast ballots in pre-determined elections where all candidates were unopposed.
Upon his re-election, "all the deputies and participants in the session broke into stormy cheers of 'hurrah!', extending the highest glory and warmest congratulations to him," KCNA said. |