North Korean House of Cards

Name Position(s) Comments
Colonel
General Pak
• Vice Chief of
the KPA GSD
Pak Jong-chon has accompanied Kim
Jong-un on inspections of artillery units
Jong-chon • Director of the
Firepower Command
Bureau
(KPA Artillery)
since 2012. Given that Kim’s own military
training is in artillery tactics, it is likely
that Pak has a special relationship with
the Supreme Leader. Pak was promoted to
colonel general in May 2013, and he was
ranked 56th on Jon Pyong-ho’s Funeral
Committee list.
Colonel
General Ri
Pyong-sam
(72)
Colonel
General
Choe Kyong-song
• Alternate
Member of the
Politburo (since
2012)
• Political Director
of the Korean
People’s Internal
Security Forces
(KPISF)
• Member of the
CMC (since
2010)
• Former Commander
of the
11th Corps
(“Storm Corps”)
Ri Pyong-sam has served four MPS
ministers, giving him a unique perspective
on various patronage systems within the
internal security apparatus. His line of
communication to Kim Jong-un most likely
goes through Choe Pu-il, the Minister of
People’s Security, although he may have
an informal channel, given the apparent
relationship he has developed with the
Supreme Leader over the last two years.
That said, the KPISF was closely tied to
Jang Song-taek and, if tainted, could limit
Ri’s access. He has not been seen in public
since February 2014.
In February, Choe Kyong-song, who had
been demoted in 2014 to lieutenant general,
was replaced as Commander of the 11th
Corps. Although it is not clear whether
Choe has been transferred to another
posting, after his removal, he was again
promoted to colonel general (sangjang].
This suggests that he may have moved into
a more advisory role, possibly within Kim’s
Personal Secretariat.
Ken E. Gause
95