New 1st Vice Defense Minister Appointed

Col. Gen. Jon Chang Bok (annotated) poses for a commemorative photograph with Kim Jong Un after a visit to the 20 February Factory of the KPA. DPRK state media’s report on this KJU visit revealed that Col. Gen. Jon had been appointed 1st Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

“Despite the fact that after I am gone, it will still not be too late to use your people, why are you in such a rush to try to handle things your way?”–Kim Jong Il, December 2011

Col. Gen. Jon Chang Bok has been appointed as the DPRK’s senior vice minister of defense.  Col. Gen. Jon, the former director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Logistics Department, was identified as 1st Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces when he attended Kim Jong Un’s (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) visit to the 20 February Foodstuffs Factory of the KPA.  Jon Chang Bok is a member of the Party Central Committee and was a member of the National Funeral Committee for Kim Jong Il.  His last observed public appearance was his attendance with KJU at a May Day-themed concert by the U’nhasu Orchestra in early May 2013.  Jon also visited Ku’msusan Memorial Palace with KJU and other members of the central leadership on the anniversary of late leader Kim Jong Il’s birth in February 2013.  In March 2013, Jon delivered the keynote speech at the opening of the Taeso’ngsan General Hospital in Pyongyang.  He also joined members of the core leadership when they escorted the Moranbong Band on a visit and performance at KPA Large Combined Unit (taeyonhap pudae) #630.  In August 2011, Col. Gen. Jon led a KPA delegation on an official visit to China.

Col. Gen. Jon Chang Bok (L) shakes hands with former Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie (R) in Beijing on 26 August 2011. At the time Col. Jon was leading a KPA logistics delegation on a visit to China. Jon was appointed 1st Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces in May 2013. (Photo: Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

A graphic illustrating key departments within the Ministry of the People’s Armed Forces (Graphic: Michael Madden/NK Leadership Watch)

Hyon Chol Hae visits the Taedonggang Tile Factory with late leader Kim Jong Il in July 2009 (Photo: KCNA)

VMar Hyon Chol Hae talks with a Changjon Street resident while visiting the man’s apartment on 6 July 2012 (Photo: KCNA/KCTV still)

Jon replaces VMar Hyon Chol Hae, a former close military aide to Kim Jong Il.  VMar Hyon was appointed 1st Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces in April 2012 and was also elected a full member of the Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Political Bureau and a member of the Party Central Military Commission.  From 2007 to 2012, VMar Hyon was director of the National Defense Commission [NDC] Standing Bureau, which was responsible for logistical and security arrangements for Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un field inspections of KPA units.  During the 3rd Party Conference in September 2010, Hyon sat in the gallery to Kim Jong Un’s left.  From 1995 to 2007 VMar Hyon was a deputy director of the KPA General Political Department, with responsibility for organization.  From 1986 to 1995, Hyon served as Director of the KPA General Logistics Department (under the Ministry of the People’s Armed Forces).  He was reappointed Director of the GLD in April 2012, replacing Jon Chang Bok.  It is not clear if Hyon has been removed from his GLD position, which may have been reclaimed by Jon Chang Bok.  It is not clear if Hyon’s removal from office is an actual “purge” or if it is tied to the last week’s dismissal of Gen. Kim Kyok Sik as Minister of the People’s Armed Forces.

Hyon is the latest DPRK elite affected by a series of personnel changes in the party, the government and security organizations.  In February 2013, Col. Gen. Choe Pu Il replaced Gen. Ri Myong Su as Minister of the People’s Security.  Col. Gen. Ri Yong Gil replace Choe Pu Il as Chief of the KPA General Staff Operations Bureau  In March 2013, Paek Kye Ryong replaced Pak Pong Ju as Director of the KWP Light Industry Department and Yun U Chol replaced Kim Ki Ryong as editor of the KWP’s daily newspaper Rodong Sinmun.  In April 2013, Pak Pong Ju was re-appointed DPRK Cabinet Premier, replacing Choe Yong Rim, who was elected Honorary Vice President of the Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA].  Former President of the State Academy of Social Sciences Tae Hyong Chol was appointed President of Kim Il Sung University, replace Song Ja Rip.  Tae vacated his position as SPA Secetary-General and was replaced by Hong Son Ok.   April 2013 also found Ri Yong Yong appointed Minister of Coal Industry, replacing Kim Hyong Sik.  In May 2013 Choe Hwi appere to have replaced Ri Jae Il as the Senior Deputy of the KWP Propaganda and Agitation [publicity and information] Department.

DPRK Premier Visits War Museum Construction

DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju (Photo: KCNA)

DPRK state media reported on 3 May that DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju visited the ongoing construction and renovation work at the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War (Korean War) Museum in Pyongyang and the Korean People’s Army [KPA] Fallen Fighters’ Cemetery.  KCNA reported that “service personnel are building the war museum into a splendid monumental edifice” and “officials and workers in the field of the capital city construction are pushing ahead with the construction of the cemetery in the spirit of winning victory in the all-out standoff with the U.S., in hearty response to the decision of the historic March, 2013 Plenary Meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea.”  Pak Pong Ju toured about the construction work and was briefed about its progress.  After his tour, Pak held a “consultative meeting” with the project’s managers and officials.  According to KCNA, the meeting “discussed the issues of providing cement, structural steel and other materials and equipment necessary for the construction” and Pak “stressed the importance of the construction of the museum and cemetery.”

Pak Pong Ju’s predecessor as DPRK Cabinet Premier, Choe Yong Rim, last visited the KPA fighters’ cemetery in February 2013 and toured the construction work at the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum in January 2013.

DPRK Premier Visits Coal Mine

DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju (1) looks at a piece of equipment during a tour of the Sunchon Area Coal Mining Complex in South Pyongan Province (Photo: KCNA)

DPRK state media reported on 29 April (Monday) that DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju visited the Sunch’o'n Area Youth Coal Mining Complex.  Pak was briefed about coal production at the 8 February Jikdong Youth Coal Mine and learned about the deposit and yield of other coal mines in the area.  Pak held a meeting with local officials and managers of the coal mines at which he “underscored the importance of the coal production in stepping up the building of an economic power and carrying out the new strategic line of the Workers’ Party of Korea on simultaneously pushing forward economic construction and the building of nuclear force,” according to KCNA.  The meeting also addressed  ”issues of working out a correct business strategy as required by the socialist economic management in the new century and rationally and scrupulously managing enterprise and manpower” and “underscored the need for the relevant units to work out plans in line with the production capacity of coal mines and put the supply of materials on a par with production as immediate tasks.”  Pak Pong Ju also toured others areas of the Sunchon coal mining complex and “discussed matters for combining production with technology. “

Pak’s predecessor, Choe Yong Rim, last visited the Sunch’o'n coal mining complex and the 8 February Jikdong Youth Coal Mine in January 2013.

Overview of the Sunch’o'n Area Coal Mining Complex (Photo: Google image)

DPRK Premier Tours Agricultural Sites in S. Hwanghae Province and Visits Kim Jong Suk Textile Mill

DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju (2nd R) tours an agricultural site in South Hwanghae Province (Photo: KCNA)

DPRK state media reported on 23 April (Tuesday) that DPRK Cabinet Premier Pak Pong Ju visited agricultural sites in South Hwanghae Province and the Kim Jong Suk Textile Mill.  Pak’s visited the Kim Jong Suk Textile Mill in east Pyongyang where he “learned about the modernization” of the mill, according to KCNA.  Pak also visited Haeju, provincial capital of South Hwagnhae, where he toured a fertilizer factory and greenhouse.

View of Kim Jong Suk Textile Mill in east Pyongyang (Photo: Google image)

View of communities in South Hwanghae Province visited by DPRK Premier Pak Pong Ju (Photo: Google image)

Pak Pong Ju also visited Chongjong Cooperative Farm in Ch’o'ngdan County and the Pumin Cooperative Farm in Kangryo’ng County “where the farmers are all out in farming in the spirit of the March, 2013 plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea.”  According to KCNA Pak “encouraged the agricultural workers who are making efforts to raise good crops to suit to the characteristics of each land and each area and according to the crop growth conditions, standing the bad weather” and “stressed the need for the farms to introduce the advanced farming method and display the advantages of sub-workteam management system, adding that it is a firm resolution of our party to solve the food problem of the people.”  Pak held a meeting with provincial officials and agricultural employees at which he “noted that the officials and other people in the agricultural field should boost their responsibilities and roles as the master of farming, bearing in their minds the continued devotion made by the great Generalissimos Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il to improve the people’s standard of living.”  The meeting also addressed “issues of producing much organic manure of good quality and fertilizing fields and the issues for relevant units to help the socialist rural countryside materially and technically.”

Pak’s visit to the textile mill and his tour around South Hwanghae Province marked his first inspection tour since his reappointment as DPRK Premier (he previously held the job from 2003-2007) at the 7th session of the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly on 1 April 2013.  Pak is maintaining the same public profile as his predecessor, Choe Yong Rim, who conducted dozens of inspection tours of economic sites in the DPRK and held many meetings with local officials.

DPRK Premier Tours Sites in North P’yo’ngan Province

DPRK Cabinet Premier Choe Yong Rim (3rd L) tours the Jangsan Cooperative Farm in Ryongchon County, North Pyongan Province (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

DPRK state media reported on 29 March (Friday) that DPRK Cabinet Premier Choe Yong Rim toured various sites in North P’yo’ngan Province.  The focus of his visits was agricultural work.  Choe visited Ryangchaek Bearings Factory and Jangsan Cooperative Farm and other places.  According to KCNA, Choe Yong Rim “encouraged the scientists, technicians, workers and officials of related units who contributed to satisfactorily solving scientific and technological issues arising in practice such as the implementation of the party’s policy of locally producing raw materials, development of efficient products, introduction of organic farming method by use of mud snails, etc.” Choe also convened meetings with local officials.  According to KCNA, he “stressed the need for the factories to combine on-going production and technological updating, while keeping themselves on the highest alert as required by the prevailing situation, and discussed measures for rounding off production processes” and that “measures were taken to provide the factories with raw and other materials needed for the modernization of production processes, send farms fertilizers necessary for increasing the per-hectare yield of grain.”

DPRK Premier Tours Islet Defense Detachments

DPRK Cabinet Premier Choe Yong Rim (3rd L) tours the Mu Islet Hero Defense Detachment (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

DPRK state media reported on 27 March (Wednesday) that DPRK Cabinet Premier Choe Yong Rim toured the Jangjae Islet and Mu Islet Hero Defense Detachments.  Choe toured the bases on the islets and visited the living quarters and other facilities of Korean People’s Army service members deployed to the islet defense detachments.  According to KCNA Choe “stressed that there is nothing to be afraid of even though tens of millions of enemies come in attack as long as there is the dear respected Supreme Commander Kim Jong Un in the van of the revolution” and “noted that no one can escape the strike by the powerful revolutionary Mt. Paektu (Paektusan) army to mercilessly sweep away the hotbed of evils if the enemies continue the reckless saber-rattling.”  Choe said that “the army and people of the DPRK have now turned out as one in the all-out action with the U.S. imperialists because the sovereignty of the nation is more valuable than their own lives.”  In his inspection of the living facilities on the islets, according to KCNA, Choe Yong Rim “learned about problems urgently essential for improving the material and cultured lives of the soldiers as well as those issues arising in turning the detachments into impregnable fortresses, and pressed for necessary measures.”

View of West Sea islets where DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim visited defense detachments (Photo: Google image)

View of West Sea islets where DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim visited defense detachments (Photo: Google image)

Party Central Committee to Meet in “late March”

The KWP CC Political Bureau, as of January 2013 (Photos: KCNA, KCTV; graphic by Michael Madden/NK Leadership Watch graphic)

DPRK state media reported on 27 March (Wednesday) that the Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Political Bureau publicized a decision on 26 March (Tuesday) to convene a plenary meeting (plenum) of the KWP Central Committee in “late March” to “to discuss and decide an important issue for victoriously advancing the Korean revolution and make a drastic turn in accomplishing the Chuch’e revolutionary cause under the banner of the great Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism.”  According to the Political Bureau’s decision “now the party members, service personnel and all other people have turned out in the just struggle against the U.S. and efforts for building a socialist economic power with a great honor and pride of having the dear respected Kim Jong Un at the head of the WPK and the revolution and with confidence of the final victory” and that “we have a sacred task to closely unite around Kim Jong Un in single mind, display the might of the great Mt. Paektu (Paektusan) nation all over the world, defend the dignity of the nation and sovereignty of the country and build a thriving socialist nation, thus accomplishing the Juche revolutionary cause started in Mt. Paektu.”

Until the early 1990s, the Party Central Committee held plenary meetings (plenums) twice a year.  It is likely that the Party Central Committee will meet one or two days prior to the convocation of the 7th session of the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly, scheduled for 1 April 2013.  From the 1970s through the 1990s, Party Central Committee meetings were convened prior to SPA sessions.

The Political Bureau along with other organizations of the
KWP Central Committee (Graphic: Michael Madden/NK Leadership Watch)

Graphic of the KWP’s Basic Party Organization (Graphic: Michael Madden/NKLW)

Central Leadership Visits Light Industry Exhibition

Senior members of the central leadership tour an exhibition of light industry goods in Pyongyang. Among the officials in this image are: Choe Tae Bok (5th R), Kim Yong Nam (4th R) Yang Hyong Sop (3rd R) and Pak To Chun (2nd R) (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

DPRK state media reported on 22 March (Friday) that members of the DPRK’s central political leadership toured an exhibition of light industry goods being held at the Three Revolutions Exhibition in Pyongyang on 20 and 22 March.  Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA] Presidium President Kim Yong Nam, DPRK Cabinet Premier Choe Yong Rim, Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Secretary and SPA Chairman Choe Tae Bok, KWP Secretary Pak To Chun and SPA Presidium Vice President Yang Hyong Sop toured the exhibition of what KCNA reported were “142.000 items of consumer goods produced by light industrial establishments in Pyongyang and local areas,” saw “exhibition stands fully stacked with vinalon products, velvet cloth, shoes, seasonal clothes, sportswear, foodstuffs, cosmetics and household utensils” and “popular among visitors were products from provincial combined foodstuff factories and Ch’angso’ng County which made big contributions to producing consumer goods by developing local industry.”  According to KCNA “those consumer goods produced through the creative ingenuity of masses and the tapping of internal reserves clearly proved the validity and vitality of the August 3 Consumer Goods Production Movement. “

DPRK Premier Choe Yong Rim (foreground, R) tours an exhibition of light industry goods at the Three Revolutions Exhibition in Pyongyang (Photo: KCNA)

The 3 August Consumer Goods Production Movement was initiated on 3 August 1984 when the late supreme leader Kim Jong Il inspected the Pyongyang City Light Industrial Goods Exhibition.  According to one of his official biographies, “this movement prvoed very viable because it sharply increased the production of various consumer goods and relied on the masses’ intelligence and creativity.  Comrade Kim Jong Il suggested party organizations push on powerfully with the movement.  In May 1986 he paid a high tribute to P’yo’ngchon District, Pyongyang, as an exemplary unit and its experience generalized across the country.”

Kim Jong Un Attends Photo Op with Participants in Light Industry Workers’ National Meeting

Cover of the 20 March 2013 edition of the Korean Workers’ Party daily newspaper Rodong Sinmun

 

Commemorative photograph of Kim Jong Un and members of the central leadership with participants in an 18 March 2013 national meeting of light industry workers at the People’s Theater in central Pyongyang on 19 March 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

DPRK state media reported on 19 March (Tuesday) that Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) attended a commemorative photo session with participants in a national meeting of industrial workers held in Pyongyang on 18 March (Monday).  KJU’s last reported public appearance was at the national meeting of light industry workers.  Attending the photo-op with Kim Jong Un were Choe Yong Rim (DPRK Cabinet Premier), Kim Kyong Hui (Korean Workers’ Party [KWP] Secretary and Department Director and KJU’s aunt), Kim Ki Nam (KWP Secretary and Director of Propaganda and Agitation [publicity and information]), Mun Kyong Dok (Chief Secretary of the Pyongyang City [municipal] KWP Committee), Ro Tu Chol (DPRK Cabinet Vice Premier and State Planning Commission Chairman), Pak Pong Ju (Director of the KWP Light Industry Department), Ri Mu Yong (DPRK Cabinet Vice Premier) and the chief secretaries of KWP Provincial Committees and chairmen of Provincial People’s Committees.

Kim Jong Un poses for a commemorative photograph on 19 March 2013 with other members of the central leadership and participants at an 18 March 2013 national meeting of light industry workers (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

Participants at an 18 March 2013 national meeting of light industry workers pose for a commemorative photograph with Kim Jong Un and other members of the central leadership in Pyongyang on 19 March 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)

According to KCNA, Kim Jong Un said, “the meeting loudly sounded the drive on the front of the light industry for improving the people’s living standard and made the torchlight for innovations kindled in the light industry furiously flare up for a fresh leap forward in agriculture and all economic sectors” and “warmly congratulated the participants on having successfully carried out their work with high enthusiasm and active participation and had a photo taken with them.”  KJU also “expressed belief that working people, officials, scientists and technicians in the field of light industry and related fields playing important roles in improving the people’s living standard would perform their duties for developing the light industry as required by the building of a thriving socialist nation.”

Commemorative photograph of Kim Jong Un, members of the DPRK central leadership and participants at an 18 March 2013 national meeting of light industry workers in Pyongyang on 19 March 2013 (Photo: Rodong Sinmun)