North Korea's Kim Jong Un named to new top party post

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was named to what appears to be a top post in the ruling Workers' Party at a special political conference Wednesday, while his late father was declared its "eternal" general secretary.

The state-run Korean Central News Agency reported the first details from the secretive party proceedings in Pyongyang.

Kim Jong Un was named first secretary of the Workers' Party. He is expected to have gained other new titles formalizing his position as "supreme leader" of North Korea's people, party and military at the fourth Workers' Party conference.

The young Kim, who was unveiled as father Kim Jong Il's choice as successor at a similar party conference in September 2010, assumed power following the longtime leader's December death.

His ascension to the party's top post comes during a week of events leading up to centennial celebrations marking the birth of his grandfather, North Korean founder Kim Il Sung. Kim Il Sung died in 1994 but remains the country's "eternal president," just as Kim Jong Il was granted the general secretary title eternally on Wednesday. Read More