Two massive new statues stand tall above a crowd of tens of thousands in North Korea.

The communist state's new leader Kim Jong-un is said to have commissioned the statues of of its former leaders - one his father Kim Jong-il, the other of his grandfather, North Korea's founder Kim Il-sung.

Kim Jong-il died suddenly in December, leaving the untested Kim Jong-un in power.

The statues are presented on the slopes of a Pyongyang hill hours after Kim Jong-un completes his rise to power, assuming a top position in the military.

(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) MEAT SHOP WORKER CHA YON-HUI SAYING:

"Our people's pride is difficult to describe. With great happiness we place respected General Kim Jong-un in the highest position in our Party and state. We are determined to follow the leadership of Kim Jong-un faithfully."

The ceremony coincides with the failure of a much -hyped long-range rocket launch, an attempt for which the young Kim faces international outrage.

North Korea will celebrate the 100th birthday of the Kim Il-sung on Sunday. The date is known as the Day of the Sun.

Katharine Jackson, Reuters.