North Korea's Kim 're-elected'
Kim Jong-il has been re-elected as North Korea's supreme leader
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Thursday, 09, Apr 2009 05:13
North Korea's parliament has re-elected Kim Jong-il as the country's supreme leader.
Kim, 67, who has hardly been seen in public since reportedly suffering a stroke last summer, was appointed for a third term by North Korea's parliament earlier today.
"The first session of the Supreme People's Assembly... highly upholds Great Leader Kim Jong-il as chairman of the National Defence Commission," the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
The commission is the foremost military command in the north, while its chairman has represented the 'highest post' since 1998.
Kim presided over the opening session of the country's parliament in Pyongyang, having not been officially seen in public since August.
The 67-year-old has ruled the reclusive Communist state since the death of his father Kim Il-sung in 1994.
Today's expected address comes after North Korea returned to the forefront of international agendas with the 'successful' launch of what Pyongyang claims is a communications satellite.
The United States, Japan and South Korea believe the satellite to have been a cover for a test-fire of the north's latest long-range missile and have demanded action at the United Nations security council, but China and Russia have blocked any resolutions.
As well as the satellite, the North Korean succession is also subject to feverish speculation, with observers looking for signs Kim favours any of his sons over the others.
Yesterday the country's main newspaper Rodong Sinmun editorial said Kim had hardened the country's political and military power "in every way".
"The future of our republic with heaven-made great commander and politician comrade Kim Jong-il at top of our nation is endlessly glorious and splendid," the newspaper said.
Kim could also reshuffle the national defence commission, with younger faces on the body expected to signal an increased likelihood of direct talks with Washington.