North Korea said Saturday it will issue gold and silver coins to mark the 20th anniversary of late leader Kim Jong-il's ascension to the supreme commander of the communist nation's armed forces.

   Pyongyang's Korean Central News Agency made the announcement minutes after Kim's successor son, Jong-un, took over the supreme commandership in a strong sign that the young son, believed to be in his late 20s, is rapidly solidifying power.

   The commandership is one of the titles that the late leader held before his death on Dec. 17, along with the general secretary of the ruling Workers' Party and the chairman of the National Defense Commission.

   Kim Jong-un is expected to assume the other posts as well.

   KCNA said the coin issuance is to mark the late leader's "immortal achievements" of making North Korea an invincible military power with nuclear weapons that no enemy can dare touch under his "songun" or military-first leadership, and to keep such feats "shining through generations."

   The gold coins will be minted 35 millimeters in diameter, 2mm thick, while silver ones will be 40mm in diameter and 3mm thick, KCNA said.

(Yonhap News)