North Korea reshuffled its military leadership on Sunday, removing Defense Minister No Kwang Chol from his post and demoting him within the ruling Workers’ Party leadership in changes approved during a meeting chaired by leader Kim Jong Un.
اضافة اعلان
The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that No Kwang Chol was dismissed as defense minister and demoted within the party leadership to become first deputy director of the Munitions Industry Department.
Kim Song Gi, director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People’s Army, was appointed the new defense minister, while Defense Adviser Pak Jong Chon was named deputy chairman of the ruling party’s Central Military Commission and a member of the Politburo.
The changes also included a series of promotions and the reassignment of positions within the military establishment as part of what the state news agency described as a “structural reorganization” of the military leadership.
Meanwhile, Kim Jong Un praised scientists, researchers and officials working in defense technology during a ceremony held to honor their achievements and award them the country’s highest national decorations.
According to KCNA, those honored contributed to addressing “scientific and technological challenges of historic importance” related to the development of new combat weapons systems, without providing details about the systems or their capabilities.
The agency added that a state weapons research center had recently developed technologies it described as a “major event” in strengthening the country’s military capabilities, saying the developments reflected a distinctive path toward advancing North Korea’s military and technological capabilities.
The military leadership reshuffle comes as Pyongyang continues to focus on strengthening its defense and technological capabilities, while North Korean leadership emphasizes military readiness and the development of new weapons systems.
