North Korean media are reporting that the army chief who is also a close advisor to leader Kim Jong-un has been removed from all this posts because of illness.

The official Korean Central News Agency said a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Workers' Party on Sunday decided to relieve 69-year-old Ri Yong-ho from all his political posts. There was no word on whether he had also lost his position as military chief.

Ri has often appeared next to Kim Jong-un during the young leader's military inspection visits and other official occasions.