Was Demoted, North Korean General Got Promotion To Important Post Because Of Ballistic Missile Program

Mr. Jong Chon on horseback. (Source: KCNA)

JAKARTA - North Korea decided to appoint a general who is considered a rising star in the country's military, influential in the missile program to the Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), Tuesday local time.

The figure in question is Pak Jong Chon, who will also serve as secretary of the WPK Central Committee, citing Reuters from North Korean news agency KCNA Tuesday, September 7. Pak is known to hold the rank of Vice Marshal of the Korean People's Army. Pak's current position is strategic and important.

His election to the presidium, one of North Korea's most powerful decision-making bodies, came after he appeared to face a reprimand or demotion in June, after leader Kim Jong Un accused officials of causing a "major crisis" with unspecified coronavirus perversions.

North Korea has not reported any confirmed cases of the virus, and has never detailed what the crisis or irregularities were. Before his demotion, Pak held the rank of Marshal of the Korean People's Army

In recent years Pak was promoted to a full four-star general in the Army, led the military as chief of the army's general staff, and featured prominently with Kim, including riding famous horses on North Korea's sacred Mount Paektu.

Analysts attribute its rise in part to its role in North Korea's development of short-range missiles, which surged 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 leading role in North Korea's ballistic missile program at the presidium, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

Analysts said the July reshuffle was the most significant personnel change among the core elite in years, and was seen as a possible warning to all officials that Kim Jong-un would hold them accountable and maintain control of their power.

Along with Pak's promotion, North Korea also made several other appointments. Rim Kwang-il, who serves as head of North Korea's military intelligence agency, was appointed chief of the army's general staff, while military general Jang Jong-nam was elected Minister of Social Security, KCNA said Tuesday.