North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited the family mausoleum enshrining the mummified bodies of the two former leaders on Tuesday, marking the 20th anniversary of the national founder's death, the country's state news wire said.

Accompanied by top echelon military officials, Kim visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun at the stroke of midnight and paid tribute to the embalmed bodies to mark the 20th anniversary of North Korean founder Kim Il-sung's death, according to an English-language report by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

He toured the memorial halls for the late founder and his grandfather before visiting those for Kim Jong-il, the leader's father who died of a sudden heart problem in 2011, according to the KCNA report.

It was the young leader's third straight annual homage visit to the family mausoleum on the anniversary since he took over power right after his father's death.

The military officials who accompanied Kim on the visit vowed to faithfully follow the young incumbent leader, the KCNA's Korean-language report covering the visit also noted.

The military's top political officer Hwang Pyong-so, Army Gen.

Ri Yong-gil and defense minister Hyon Yong-chol were among those who accompanied Kim.

Kim's visit to the family mausoleum enshrining the bodies of the former leaders may be aimed at reaffirming the country's military-first policy upheld by the ancestors and to prop up loyalty from military officials. (Yonhap)