Kim Jong-un was Wednesday "reelected" as North Korea's leader, state media said, as parliament met in a session closely watched for power shifts in the secretive regime following the shock execution of his once-powerful uncle.

The new parliament is expected to endorse personnel changes that observers say are likely to affect officials linked to his "traitor" uncle Jang Song-thaek, once Kim's political mentor.

Kim was reaffirmed as first chairman of the powerful National Defense Commission by the parliament in a show of "absolute support and trust of all service personnel and people in him," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

Upon his re-election, "all the deputies and participants in the session broke into stormy cheers of 'hurrah!', extending the highest glory and warmest congratulations to him," KCNA said.

The rubber-stamp assembly met after North Koreans last month voted in predetermined elections where all candidates were unopposed.

AFP