Pyongyang, May 24 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), signed an order on promoting the military ranks of commanding officers.

The order issued on May 23 is as follows:

It is the fixed faith and unshakable will of our party to firmly defend the sovereignty and dignity of the country, break through head-on the grim unprecedented hardships and win new victory in building a powerful socialist country in reliance on the strong militant spirit and the invincible might of the revolutionary armed forces

Today the armed forces of the DPRK face a heavy historic task to further arm with the revolutionary idea, line and policies of the WPK as required by the prevailing situation, to reliably defend the party, the revolution, the country, people and socialism by bolstering the invincible military force in every way and to fully display the might as the pioneer of the times and the performers of miracles in the grand advance for achieving prosperity by dint of self-defence.

All the commanding officers of the armed forces of the DPRK must open the breakthrough of advance in the van of the gigantic struggle to significantly celebrate the 75th founding anniversary of the glorious WPK by holding fast to the party's leadership as lifeline and work unprecedented innovative successes in carrying out the cause of building a powerful army and the cause of socialist construction as a whole so as to glorify the noble honor as members of the great party's army, the great people's army.

I order to promote the military ranks of the major commanding officers as follows, firmly believing that all the commanding officers, key backbones of the armed forces of the DPRK, would honor their noble mission and duties in the sacred struggle to defend the party, the revolution, the country and the people.

According to the order of the supreme commander, Pak Jong Chon was promoted to vice marshal, Jong Kyong Thaek to general and Choe Tu Yong, Kim Jong Gil, Kwon Yong Jin, Kwon Thae Yong, Choe Kwang Jun, Han Sun Chol and Kim Pyong Sop were promoted to colonel general, Kim Kuk Chang, U Myong Nam, Sin In Yong, Kim Chun Gyo, Om Song Il, Kim Ju Sam, Jong Myong Do, Ri Kyong Chon, Ri Yong Chol, Hong Jong Duk, Jon Sung Nam, Ryo Chol Ung, Kim To Un, Pak Song Chan, Ro Yong Gil, Ri Il Nam, An Kwang Nam, Kim Chun Won, Kim Chun Bom and Rim Yong Chol to lieutenant general and Ri Song Min, Kim Pong Ho, Pak Yong Gwan, Kim Kuk Hyon, Ju Tong Chol, Jo Kwang Sok, Kim Kang Il, Pak Kyong Ho, Kim Hyo Nam, Kim Tong Chol, Ri Kyong Chol, Ri Chang Ho, Kim Chon Hyok, Ri Yong Chol, Ha Chol, Sin Kum Chol, Choe Chang Hu, Pak Song Ryol, Jon Chol, Nam Chol, Hyon Un Chol, Sin Chol Ryong, Mun Kwang Guk, Sim Tong Jun, Kim Yong Gun, Pak Il Hak, Kim Chol Man, Choe San Ho, Paek Ki Chol, Pang Kwang Nam, Yun Pok Nam, Kim Ryong Chol, Yun Il Nam, Yun Hwang Chol, Kim Hak Chol, Hwang Nae Yun, Jong Myong Nam, Sim Won Chol, Han Ju Song, Jon Kyong Sang, Kim Sun Chol, Ko Jong Chol, Jang Kun Pil, Pak Tong Gyu, Kim Myong Ho, Ri Jong Chol, Pak Il Su, Sim Song Bin, Han Yong Bom, Kim Kwang Hun, Ham Hyo Sik, Kim Myong Ho, Kim Kwang Su, Pak Song Ju, Kim Won Bong, Hong Myong Sok, Choe Hang Mun, Yun Chol Ho, So Kang Chol, Ri Chun Sam, Kim Myong Nam, Pang Ryong Il, Yun Hyo Song, Kang Kum Chol, Ri Yong Sop, Kang Chol Hyon, Kim Kyong Jung, Pae Tong Nam and Ri Ju Ho to major general. -0-