Pyongyang: North Korea has reportedly fired Park Jong-chon, the most powerful military chief after North Korean President Kim Jong-un. Pak has served as the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers’ Party and as the Secretary of the Party’s Central Committee. Ri Yong Gil was appointed as the new army chief at the committee’s annual meeting last week, official media KCNA reported.
The reason behind the dismissal is unclear. But Pak’s dismissal comes as Kim calls for new intercontinental ballistic missiles and larger nuclear weapons to counter the US and South Korea as part of his 2023 defense strategy. Korean media reported footage of Pak sitting in the front row of the venue during the annual conference with his head down. Pak was also absent when Kim Jong Un visited Kumsusan Palace, where his grandfather and father are buried, on New Year’s Day.
North Korea routinely changes its leadership and announces such reforms and major policy decisions at its year-end meeting. The party’s Central Military Commission, headed by Kim Jong Un, is considered the country’s most powerful military decision-making body.
Pak, who was promoted to the Politburo in 2020, also received the rank of marshal, the highest military rank under Kim. He came out strongly against the South Korea-US joint military exercises that took place last November.
Kim Jong-un has ordered to test a new intercontinental ballistic missile and expand the nuclear arsenal amid rising tensions between the two Koreas. The ruling Workers’ Party said it was necessary to counter US-led rivals.
Tensions between the two have escalated after North Korea sent drones and missiles to South Korea last week. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has instructed the army to prepare for any situation. A short-range ballistic missile was also tested on the east coast.