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North Korea military chief 'relieved of post' North Korea military head Ri Yong-ho 'relieved of post'
(30 minutes later)
North Korean military chief Ri Yong-ho has been removed from all official posts, according to state media.North Korean military chief Ri Yong-ho has been removed from all official posts, according to state media.
As well as being head of the army, he was vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission and held top posts in the ruling Workers Party. As well as being head of the army, he was vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission and held top posts in the ruling Workers' Party.
In a short statement, the party said Mr Ri had been removed from his posts "because of illness".In a short statement, the party said Mr Ri had been removed from his posts "because of illness".
The BBC's Seoul correspondent Lucy Williamson says there is widespread scepticism about that explanation.The BBC's Seoul correspondent Lucy Williamson says there is widespread scepticism about that explanation.
The decision to remove Mr Ri from power is now being scrutinised by analysts for signs about which direction North Korea's new leader Kim Jong-un will take the country in. The decision to relieve Mr Ri of his duties came at a meeting of the Workers' Party Central Committee politburo on Sunday, state-run news agency KCNA said.
He was made army chief three years ago under the rule of Kim Jong-il, the current leader's father. The brief report made no mention of a successor.
Mr Ri regularly appeared at state occasions beside Kim Jong-il and was seen as a key figure in the transition of power to his son. Key figure
Few details are known about Kim Jong-un, who has now in power for six months, but he is believed to be less than 30 years old. Mr Ri was made army chief three years ago under Kim Jong-il, the current leader's father who died in December 2011 after ruling North Korea for almost two decades.
Our correspondent says control of North Korea's military is seen as key to retaining power, but Kim Jong-un's more relaxed leadership style has led some to predict wider signs of change within the closed Stalinist regime. The army chief regularly appeared at state occasions beside Kim Jong-il and was seen as a key figure in the transition of power to his son, Kim Jong-un.
He was one of seven top officials to accompany the younger Kim as he followed the hearse containing his father's body at his state funeral.
This move is now being scrutinised by analysts for signs about which direction Kim Jong-un, seen as young and inexperienced, will take the country in.
Our correspondent says control of North Korea's military is seen as key to retaining power in the closed state.
In April North Korea defied international warnings to launch a rocket - an action its neighbours called a long-range missile test that contravened UN resolutions.
South Korea has also warned that Pyongyang appears to be in the late stages of preparing for a third nuclear test.
International talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions have been stalled since 2009.