N Korea’s Kim named as ‘Marshal’

SEOUL - Agence France-Presse

Kim becomes the third person to have the ‘Marshal’ title in North Korea. EPA photo

North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un has been made “Marshal” of North Korea, in another sign that the latest member of the country’s ruling communist dynasty was tightening his grip on power, official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said yesterday.

The title was previously held by Jong-un’s father and grandfather. The decision was jointly issued on July 17 by several top state officials. “A decision was made to award the title of Marshal of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to Kim Jong-un, supreme commander of the Army,” KCNA said. Jong-un’s promotion came days after he sacked army chief Ri Yong-ho as part of a reshuffle apparently aimed at imposing himself on the military. Pyongyang made Hyon Yong-Chul a vice marshal earlier this week.