North Korean state media says Choe Ryong-hae, a secretary of the Central Committee of North Korea’s ruling Workers' Party, has been appointed to vice chairman of the party’s Central Military Commission.

The North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency said Thursday that Choe was also named a member of the Presidium (Standing Committee) of the Politburo of the ruling party's Central Committee during the fourth conference of the Workers' Party delegates in Pyongyang on Wednesday.

The report said Choe has been serving from this month as the head of the General Politburo, which is considered the highest post in the North’s military.

Choe is reportedly a close confidant of Jang Song-thaek who is North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s uncle.

The report also said that General Kim Won-hong has been serving as the head of the Department of State Security this month. It also stated North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's aunt, Kim Kyong-hui, has been promoted to secretary of the ruling party’s Central Committee.