N Korea acclaims Kim Jong-Un as 'supreme' leader

North Korea Thursday declared late leader Kim Jong-Il's son and successor its new "supreme" chief as the country held a memorial service featuring tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians.

The ceremonial head of state Kim Yong-Nam, addressing the vast crowd filling a Pyongyang square, praised the late Kim for contributing to "global peace and stability of the 21st century".

Kim's 20-something son Jong-Un, clad in a black overcoat, headed the platform of dignitaries.

The official news agency described him as "supreme leader of the party, state and army", a designation echoed by Kim Yong-Nam.

"Respected comrade Kim Jong-Un is the supreme leader of our party and the military who inherited Kim Jong-Il's spirit, leadership, personality, morality and fortitude," the speaker said.

The North would "transform the sorrow into strength and courage 1,000 times greater under the leadership of comrade Kim Jong-Un and will march firmly along the path of Songun taught by great leader Kim Jong-Il".

The Songun military-first policy prioritises the welfare of the 1.2 million-strong armed forces over civilians.

The service will end 13 days of mourning following Kim Jong-Il's death on December 17 from a heart attack at the age of 69. The country was to observe three minutes of silence nationwide at noon (0300 GMT).

"The great heart of comrade Kim Jong-Il has ceased to beat... such an unexpected and early departure from us is the biggest and the most unimaginable loss to our party and the revolution," Kim Yong-Nam told the crowd, his voice throbbing with emotion.

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