North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reshuffled the military hierarchy so that Defence Minister No Kwang-chol is replaced by Kim Song-gi.
The move comes at a sensitive time for the Korean Peninsula, just days after the United States and South Korea concluded their annual joint military exercises.
According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Song-gi, who previously headed the General Political Bureau of the Korean People’s Army, was appointed as the country’s new defence minister.
No Kwang-chol has been reassigned as the first vice-director of the Workers’ Party of Korea’s Munitions Industry Department.
The leadership changes were reportedly approved in a meeting of the Workers’ Party’s Central Military Commission chaired by Kim Jong Un. KCNA said the moves were part of plans for the “structural reorganization” of the country’s defence affairs.
The reshuffle also saw veteran military official Pak Jong-chon, who was appointed vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and returned to the party’s Politburo. The changes indicate that Kim Jong Un is still restructuring senior military positions and is putting more attention on defence modernization and weapons development.
The timing of the reshuffle has been especially acute. The United States and South Korea recently concluded the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise. This year, the drills were cut from 11 days to five after US President Donald Trump ordered that US participation be reduced drastically.
Pyongyang has repeatedly condemned such exercises, calling them preparation for an invasion when Washington and Seoul claim that they are defensive in nature.
North Korea had also responded to the drills with military activity. During the exercises, Pyongyang launched more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward waters east of the Korean Peninsula, prompting South Korea to order its military to keep its military on high alert.
So these latest leadership changes come with continued military pressure from North Korea and weapons development and uncertain diplomacy.
North Korea has shown little willingness to accept calls for denuclearization, but Trump has expressed interest in restoring relations with Kim Jong Un, potentially meeting him again.
Kim Jong Un has also put a lot more emphasis on military technology. KCNA reported that he praised scientists and researchers involved in developing new combat systems and advised them to strengthen the country’s military capabilities.
The reason behind No Kwang-chol’s removal has not been publicly disclosed. But the combination of a senior military reshuffle, renewed weapons development and continuing tension between Washington and Seoul, and the overall picture of regional security, is significant.
The leadership shake-up will likely be closely watched for signs of North Korea’s future defence priorities and its approach to relations with the United States and South Korea.
