By IANS,
Pyongyang : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was Friday elected the first chairman of the National Defence Commission, on the same day a satellite launched by the country broke into pieces after lift-off and fell into the sea.
His father, late leader Kim Jong-il was given the title of the commission’s “eternal chairman”, media reports said.
Citing North Korea’s official news agency KCNA, Xinhua said the election took place during the fifth session of the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA).
Kim Jong-un is also the first secretary and supreme leader of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the supreme commander of the Korean People’s Army.
The SPA is the supreme power organ of North Korea. It holds the highest authority in the country and exercises legislative power. The parliamentary session is usually held annually.
A North Korean satellite, which South Korea termed a “ballistic missile”, failed to enter orbit after its launch Friday morning.
The 90-tonne Unha-3 rocket was launched at 7.39 a.m. from the Tongchang-ri launch site but broke into some 20 pieces and fell into the sea a few minutes after lift-off, according to the South Korean defence ministry.