marshal

北朝鮮の朝鮮中央通信は今日，正午の重大発表としたニュースで，金正恩労働党第1書記に「元帥」の称号が与えられたと伝えました。「元帥」は英語ではmarshalです。もともとはhorse+servantの意味があわさった言葉でしたが，いつの間にか軍隊の最高位を表すまでに昇進しました。（UG）

North Korea said Wednesday that it had given the title of marshal of the army to its young leader, Kim Jong Un, the latest in a string of recent moves to reconfigure the top ranks of the military.

Kim, who is already referred to as "supreme commander" of the Korean People's Army, has been awarded the title of marshal by the reclusive regime's most powerful political and military bodies, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

The announcement follows the removal of the army chief, Ri Yong Ho, from all his government posts on Sunday, a decision KCNA said had been motivated by his "illness." A day later, North Korea promoted a little known general to the rank of vice marshal.

Analysts have speculated that the moves may show signs of a struggle within the regime between the military and civilian elites as Kim seeks to consolidate power after succeeding his father, Kim Jong Il, who died in December.

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/07/17/world/asia/north-korea-kim/index.html?hpt=hp_t3