North Korea names Kim Jong-un top military commander

North Korea's new leader Kim Jong-un (2nd R) looks on, as he is flanked by President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea Kim Yong-nam (R) and Chief of General Staff of the Korea People's Army Ri Yong-ho (3rd R), during the memorial for late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang, in this KCNA picture taken on December 29, 2011 and released on December 30, 2011.

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea said Saturday it has officially appointed Kim Jong-un, anointed successor and the youngest son of the late leader Kim Jong-il, the supreme commander of North Korea's 1.2 million-strong military.

The North's state news agency KCNA said the appointment was made at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party Friday.

KCNA said the Political Bureau members "courteously proclaimed the dear comrade Kim Jong-un, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, assumed the supreme commandership of the Korean People's Army" according to a will made by Kim Jong-il on October 8.

Since the death of Kim Jong-il this month aged 69, North Korean state media have dubbed the junior Kim in his late 20s, as "Supreme Commander." But the announcement on the politburo's decision meant an official approval of his control of one of the world's most powerful armed forces.

Kim Jong-un was not only named a four-star general but also given the vice-chairmanship of the ruling party's central military commission by his father last year.

(Reporting by Sung-won Shim)