The leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, has decided to return to a key position one of the heavyweights of the military establishment, Park Jong Chon, by reappointing him as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission. This move is part of a broad restructuring of the military leadership that also affects the Ministry of Defense, which is now headed by the previously responsible for the military politburo, Kim Song Gi.
The return of Park, former artillery commander and ex-chief of staff, considered the country's main specialist in missile development, comes just half a year after his departure from the command core. At the Ninth Party Congress, held in February, Park resigned from all his prominent positions and was assigned to an advisory role in the Ministry of National Defense.
For his part, the now former Minister of Defense, No Kwang Chol, has been transferred to the Munitions Industry Department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party, as detailed by the North Korean state agency KCNA. This readjustment is part of a structural reorganization "for the improvement and development of general defense in the future."
Experts cited by the "Korea Herald" interpret Park's return as part of a plan to modernize advanced weapon systems. Regarding the change of functions of the Minister of Defense, they relate it to the attempt to strengthen the "political and ideological control of the party over the administrative and foreign affairs of the Army" by the North Korean leader.
These movements are joined by a component of generational renewal, exemplified in the rise of the previously head of the Military Security Office, Yu Kwang U, who now occupies the deputy direction of the General Politburo of the party.