PYONGYANG, North Korea — North Korea's Workers' Party congress wrapped up its official agenda on Monday by announcing a new title for Kim Jong Un — party chairman — in a move that highlights how the authoritarian country's first congress in 36 years aimed to bolster the young leader and usher in a new era.

The new title was announced during the roughly 10 minutes that a small group of foreign media, including The Associated Press, was allowed to watch the congress in the ornate April 25 House of Culture.

It was the first time since the congress began Friday that any of the more than 100 foreign journalists invited were allowed to view the proceedings. Earlier Monday, three BBC journalists were expelled for allegedly “insulting the dignity” of North Korea.

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

His predecessors keep their posthumous titles. Kim Jong Il remains “eternal general secretary,” and Kim Il Sung is still “eternal president.”

The congress has touted Kim's successes on the nuclear front and promised economic improvements to boost the nation's standard of living.

Mostly, however, the congress has put Kim himself front and center in the eyes of the people and the party as the country's sole leader.

Officially bringing more people into his inner circle, Kim filled two vacancies on the powerful Presidium of the party's central committee. Senior party official Choe Ryong Hae regained a seat that he had lost; once considered Kim Jong Un's No. 2, he is believed to have been briefly banished to a rural collective farm last year for re-education.

Premier Pak Pong Ju was also named to the Presidium. Other members are Kim Jong Un himself; Kim Yong Nam, who as parliament leader is the country's nominal head of state; and Hwang Pyong So, the top political officer of the Korean People's Army.

Kim Yong Nam, 88, stayed on despite speculation from observers that he might lose his position because of his age.

The BBC said correspondent Rupert Wingfield-Hayes was detained Friday along with producer Maria Byrne and cameraman Matthew Goddard, and that all were taken to the Pyongyang airport.