North Korea elected a new honorary president a month after its official parliament was elected.
Choi Ryung-i, deputy to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was elected Thursday as chairman of the State Affairs Committee, the official state agency agency KCNA reported.
Choi replace Kim Young-nam, 91, who long considered North Korea´s diplomatic front, but his retirement was expected because of his age.
South Korean media said Choi was a high-caliber politician and the second man in North Korea after Kim.
The Central News Agency called Choi´s choice "a great political event of decent historical significance."
687 deputies are elected to parliament for five years. The participation rate in last month´s elections was more than 90%.
The parliament is officially the highest body in North Korea, but meets only once or twice a year to approve decisions made by the country´s leaders.
