North Korea has reportedly promoted a military chief to a position in the presidium of the ruling Workers' Party.

The North's ruling party mouthpiece Rodong Sinmun said on Tuesday that Pak Jong-chon has been elected a member of the Presidium of the party's Political Bureau.

The report said Pak will also serve as secretary of the Central Committee. 

Pak appears to have replaced Ri Pyong-chol, who was thought to have been dismissed as a presidium member for a failed response in quarantine efforts. 

Pak's promotion came after he appeared to have been demoted in June after leader Kim Jong-un accused officials of causing a "great crisis" with unspecified lapses in anti-epidemic efforts.