North Korea's state media praised the late grandmother of leader Kim Jong-un on Monday in what could be the country's latest attempt to strengthen Kim's leadership following the bloody purge of his uncle.

The North's main newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun, urged North Koreans to follow in the footstep of Kim Jong-suk for her devotion to safeguard her husband, the North Korean founder Kim Il-sung.

The latest praise came a day before the birthday of the grandmother, who is known in North Korea as an anti-Japanese guerrilla and "a peerless heroine."  

The newspaper also stressed the importance of carrying the country's royal bloodline, called the Mount Paektu bloodline.

Kim Jong-suk gave birth to Kim Jong-il, the late father of the current leader, in the former Soviet Union, according to historians and foreign officials.

Even though, North Korea has claimed that Kim Jong-il was born in Mount Paektu, adding that the highest peak on the Korean Peninsula is one of the most sacred sites in the communist country.

The junior Kim took over North Korea in 2011 following the sudden death of Kim Jong-il, who also inherited the power from his father Kim Il-sung, the North's founder.

North Korean state media has frequently called for the monolithic leadership of Kim, saying that the Mount Paektu bloodline is and should be the North's eternal bloodline, referring to the Kim family.

The latest propaganda campaign came days after the North executed Jang Song-thaek, current leader Kim Jong-un's once-powerful uncle, for treason. (Yonhap News)