Kim Jong-un has been named chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea at a rare party congress held in Pyongyang.

The first congress of the Workers' Party in 36 years, which opened on Friday, was scheduled to promote Kim to the "top post" of the party, according to state media.

During the congress, Kim Yong-nam, head of the North's parliament, read a roster of top party positions, calling Kim Jong-un Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea for the first time.

Workers' Party Congress in North Korea Show all 12 1 /12 Workers' Party Congress in North Korea Workers' Party Congress in North Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves to the crowd as he presides over a mass rally and parade in the capital's main ceremonial square, a day after the ruling party wrapped up its first congress in 36 years by elevating him to party chairman Reuters Workers' Party Congress in North Korea North Korean parade participants wave decorative bouquets of flowers and carry their country's national flag as they march with a model of the Unha pace launch vehicle at the Kim Il Sung Square. Hundreds of thousands of North Koreans celebrated the country's newly completed ruling-party congress with a massive civilian parade featuring floats bearing patriotic slogans and marchers with flags and pompoms AP Workers' Party Congress in North Korea People react as they see North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a mass rally and parade in the capital's main ceremonial square, a day after the ruling party wrapped up its first congress in 36 years by elevating him to party chairman in Pyongyang Reuters Workers' Party Congress in North Korea High party and military officials react as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appears at the beginning of a mass rally and parade in the capital's main ceremonial square Workers' Party Congress in North Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is accompanied by high party and military officials as he presides over a mass rally and parade in the capital's main ceremonial square, a day after the ruling party wrapped up its first congress in 36 years by elevating him to party chairman, in Pyongyang, North Korea, May 10, 2016. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj Reuters Workers' Party Congress in North Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un waves from a balcony of the Grand People's Study House following a mass parade marking the end of the 7th Workers Party Congress in Kim Il-Sung Square Getty Images Workers' Party Congress in North Korea Attendees cheer the arrival of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un during the 7th Workers Party Congress Getty Images Workers' Party Congress in North Korea A hostess and security guard stand inside the April 25 Palace, the venue of the 7th Workers Party Congress Getty Images Workers' Party Congress in North Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends the first congress of the country's ruling Workers' Party in 36 years Reuters Workers' Party Congress in North Korea Party representatives sit in the hall of the April 25 House of Culture during the party congress in Pyongyang AP Workers' Party Congress in North Korea North Korean leader Kim Jong Un listens during the party congress in Pyongyang. North Korea has brought in more than 100 journalists from around the world to make sure that the 7th Congress of its ruling Workers' Party gets global attention. Four days into the event, they allowed a small number of foreign journalists into the conventional hall where the congress was taking place Workers' Party Congress in North Korea A general view shows the April 25 Palace, the venue of the 7th Workers Party Congress in Pyongyang Getty Images

Kim had already been head of the party, but with the title of first secretary.

His predecessors will keep their posthumous titles. Kim Jong-Il remains "eternal general secretary" and Kim Il-Sung is still "eternal president".

The congress, which began Friday, has celebrated Kim's successes on the nuclear front and promised economic developments to boost the hermit nation's standard of living.

However, the congress has mostly put Kim front and centre in the eyes of the people and the party as the country's sole leader.

What you're not allowed to say in North Korea

On Sunday, Kim Jong-un delivered a three-hour speech to delegates to review the country's situation and progress since the last congress was held, in 1980, before Kim was born.

He announced a five-year economic plan, the first made public since the 1980s.

During the speech, he said North Korea was a responsible nuclear state and said it would not use its nuclear weapons first, unless its sovereignty was threatened.

The speech underscored Kim's dual focus on building up the country's military while trying to kick-start its economy, which has seen some growth in recent years but remains hampered by international sanctions over its nuclear program.