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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un participates in the third enlarged meeting of the political office of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) in Pyongyang, North Korea, on September 2, 2021 in this image provided by the North Korea News Agency on September 3, 2021. KCNA via REUTERS
SEOUL, Sept. 7 (Reuters) – North Korea has long elevated a long-considered rising general in the country’s powerful army and a major player in its missile program to a seat in the ruling Labor Party. of Korea (WPK) politburo, state media reported on Tuesday.
Pak Jong Chon will also act as secretary of the WPK Central Committee, the KCNA news agency said.
His election to the presidium, one of North Korea’s most powerful decision-making bodies, came after he appeared to have received a reprimand or demotion in July, along with other senior officials, after leader Kim Jong Un accused officials of causing “major crisis” with unspecified coronavirus expirations.
North Korea has not reported any confirmed cases of the virus and has never detailed what the crises or defects were.
Yang Moo-jin, a professor at North Korea University of Studies in Seoul, said Pak’s apparent setback in July could have been a formal thing to show people he was taking responsibility for the failures. .
“His position is likely to be restored at any time,” Yang said.
In recent years, Pak was promoted to four-star general, led the army as chief of staff of the army, and made prominent appearances alongside Kim, including on a famous horseback ride through the sacred Mount Paektu of North Korea.
Analysts attributed its rise in part to its role in North Korea’s short-range missile development, which advanced after Kim suspended long-range ballistic missile tests in 2018 amid talks with the United States. .
Pak appears to have replaced Ri Pyong-chol, another powerful general who played a major role in North Korea’s ballistic missile program, to the president, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.
Analysts said the reshuffle in July was the most important change in the basic elite staff in recent years, and was seen as a likely warning to them that Kim would hold them accountable and maintain control of their power.
Rim Kwang-il, who held the post of head of the North Korean military intelligence agency, was appointed chief of staff of the army, while army general Jang Jong-nam was elected Minister of Social Security, KCNA said on Tuesday.
Reports by Josh Smith; edited by Richard Pullin
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