North Korean leader's son elected general secretary

North Korean state media reported on Monday that Kim Jong-un had been appointed a general in the secretive Communist country.

The move fueled speculation that Kim Jong-un is being groomed as a successor to his 68-year-old father, who is believed to be in poor health.

The announcement comes as North Korean capital of Pyongyang hosts the country's biggest political meeting in decades with the aim of naming a new leadership team for the country.

Very little is known about Swiss-educated Kim Jong-un, apart from the fact that he is thought to be in his mid-20s.

Monday was the first time that Kim Jong-un had been mentioned in public by North Korean state media.

Kim Jong il inherited the leadership of the isolated country from his father Kim Il-sung in 1994. A personality cult has been built up around the family, with Kim Il-sung known as the "eternal president" and Kim Jong-il as the "dear leader."