Regime installs new premier

North Korea's premier has been replaced during a session of the nation's rubber-stamp parliament, the state-run media reported.

Pak Pong Chu was relieved of the premiership and replaced by Kim Yong Il, the official Korean Central News Agency reported. It did not give any reasons for the change.

Pak had been appointed in 2003 in a move seen as an attempt to revive the nation's moribund economy.

Kim previously was the army and navy minister.