By Chung Min-uck
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was nominated as a candidate to run for his country's legislative elections slated for March, according to the North's state news agency, Tuesday.
The North earlier announced it will hold general elections on March 9 to pick new deputies for the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), a powerless puppet body controlled by the one-party dictatorship of the ruling Worker's Party. Only those endorsed by the party can run in the elections.
"Kim was nominated as a candidate for deputy to the 13th SPA in reflection of the unanimous desire and absolute trust of all the service personnel in him," reported the Korean Central News Agency, adding that top North Korean military officials expressed full support for Kim's bid.
According to the report, the constituency that Kim will run for was dubbed the "Mount Baekdu," a mountain located at the North Korea-China border, which in North Korea refers to those who are direct descendants of Kim Il-sung, late founder of North Korea and Kim Jong-un's grandfather.
Experts say the move is aimed at consolidating the 31-year-old Kim Jong-un's grip on power by having him follow in the footsteps of his predecessor and address military support of the leadership.
Kim's leadership base, inherited from his father Kim Jong-il in 2011, is currently thought to be shaken following the execution of Jang Song-thaek, his once-powerful uncle and leading figure of the moderate non-military faction in Pyongyang politics, in December for alleged treason.
Late leader Kim Jong-il was elected as a member of the SPA in 2009.
"Being nominated as a candidate of the so-called ‘Baekdu' constituency shows Kim's willingness to accept the military-first policy of his predecessors and secure the legitimacy of his ruling," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies.
Some analysts say Kim will likely use the upcoming elections as an opportunity to eliminate or sideline supporters of late Jang Song-thaek.
Meanwhile, the KCNA reported Tuesday that North Korea's key youth organization and trade union discussed ways to firmly establish Kim's monolithic leadership.
North Korean state media have frequently supported the monolithic leadership of Kim.
Kim boasted in his New Year's speech that the purge of anti-party and counterrevolutionary factionalists has strengthened the party.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was nominated as a candidate to run for his country's legislative elections slated for March, according to the North's state news agency, Tuesday.
The North earlier announced it will hold general elections on March 9 to pick new deputies for the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), a powerless puppet body controlled by the one-party dictatorship of the ruling Worker's Party. Only those endorsed by the party can run in the elections.
"Kim was nominated as a candidate for deputy to the 13th SPA in reflection of the unanimous desire and absolute trust of all the service personnel in him," reported the Korean Central News Agency, adding that top North Korean military officials expressed full support for Kim's bid.
According to the report, the constituency that Kim will run for was dubbed the "Mount Baekdu," a mountain located at the North Korea-China border, which in North Korea refers to those who are direct descendants of Kim Il-sung, late founder of North Korea and Kim Jong-un's grandfather.
Experts say the move is aimed at consolidating the 31-year-old Kim Jong-un's grip on power by having him follow in the footsteps of his predecessor and address military support of the leadership.
Kim's leadership base, inherited from his father Kim Jong-il in 2011, is currently thought to be shaken following the execution of Jang Song-thaek, his once-powerful uncle and leading figure of the moderate non-military faction in Pyongyang politics, in December for alleged treason.
Late leader Kim Jong-il was elected as a member of the SPA in 2009.
"Being nominated as a candidate of the so-called ‘Baekdu' constituency shows Kim's willingness to accept the military-first policy of his predecessors and secure the legitimacy of his ruling," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies.
Some analysts say Kim will likely use the upcoming elections as an opportunity to eliminate or sideline supporters of late Jang Song-thaek.
Meanwhile, the KCNA reported Tuesday that North Korea's key youth organization and trade union discussed ways to firmly establish Kim's monolithic leadership.
North Korean state media have frequently supported the monolithic leadership of Kim.
Kim boasted in his New Year's speech that the purge of anti-party and counterrevolutionary factionalists has strengthened the party.
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