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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (C) with Deputy Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers’ Party Pak Jong-chon (L) at the leadership podium during the Party’s Founding Day military parade in Pyongyang October 10, 2020. Photo /KCNA
Pak, who served as deputy chairman of the ruling Workers’ Party Central Military Commission and secretary of the party’s Central Committee, was replaced by Ri Yong-gil.
“The decision was made at the committee’s annual meeting last week,” state news agency KCNA reported on Sunday (1/1/2023).
Pak is seen sitting ringside during a match with his head down. The place is shown again, then appears empty.
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The Central Military Commission, chaired by Kim, is considered more powerful than the country’s defense ministry when it comes to making military decisions.
No reason was given for the reshuffle, but the North Korean government shuffles leadership positions on a regular basis.
Oh Gyeong-sup, a fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul, told Reuters that Pak could be responsible for the “failed security operation” following an incident in which a North Korean drone intruded into South Korean airspace.
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When Seoul sent three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the North Korean border, there appeared to be no response from Pyongyang to suggest that its defenses had failed to detect the drones.
