North Korea said Wednesday its leader Kim Jong-un has been awarded the title of marshal, the top commander of the North's 1.2-million-strong army.

"A decision was made to award the title of Marshal of the DPRK (North Korea) to Kim Jong-un, supreme commander of the Korean People's Army," the Korean Central News Agency said in a report.

The announcement comes after North Korea said Monday its army chief Ri Yong-ho had been removed from all his posts and a little-known general, Hyun Yong-chol, was promoted to the rank of vice-marshal.

The abrupt departure of Ri is being interpreted as senior officials in Seoul as the first political purge by Kim Jong-un, seven months after he took power following the death of his father, Kim Jong-il. (Yonhap)