Kim Jong-un reshuffles North Korean military Mr Kim's military career also included working as a liaison officer with Syria, one of a few allies of the diplomatically isolated North, according to North Korea Leadership Watch, a website that specialises in tracking personnel there. Syria and North Korea have close military ties and a ship carrying North Korean cargo that could be used to make missiles headed for Syria was stopped in May. UN sanctions ban arms trade with North Korea and were imposed after the isolated state's 2009 missile and nuclear tests. The second South Korean official said Kim Kyok-sik's appointment is the latest move in a military reshuffle that began earlier in the year with the purge of one of the highest ranking army men, Ri Yong-ho. "It could be the most significant move after Ri's dismissal to strengthen his (Kim Jong-un's) grip on the military," the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. The post of the Minister of Armed Forces is considered subordinate to the Army Chief of General Staff and its head of the Political Department. But the appointment is indication of a top army general being rewarded for loyalty to the new leader as he tries to cement his power after taking over from his father Kim Jong-il who died in December last year, the officials said.