The Unification Ministry has declined to comment on North Korea's appointments of new military chiefs, calling them "the North's internal affairs."

Unification ministry spokesman Kim Ho-nyoun on Thursday said the government is unable to confirm whether the North's military reshuffle is related to Pyongyang’s latest hard-line policies toward the South or preparations for the post-Kim Jong-il era.

The North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency said Thursday that National Defense Commission Vice Chairman Kim Yong-chun was appointed to head the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces, a post equivalent to South Korea's defense minister.

Army General Ri Yong-ho was promoted to Chief of the General Staff, equivalent to South Korea's chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.