North Korean House of Cards

Statue Unveiling at the Ministry of People’s Security
Choe Pu-il
Jang Song-taek
Jo Yon-jun
Ri Pyong-sam, Kim Jang-sop, Kim Won-hong
Image 28: Choe Pu-il speaking at the unveiling of statues of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il at the
Ministry of People’s Security in April 2013. (Source: KCTV, 15 April 2013)
As the commotion surrounding Jang Song-taek intensified behind the
scenes, curious meetings were convened that brought together members of the
security apparatus. Many of them were highly unusual. Kim Jong-un, in his capacity
as Supreme Commander, oversaw meetings of the KPA company commanders
and instructors from October 22 to 23, 2013, and of KPA security personnel in
November 2013. The first meeting was attended by several members of the internal
security leadership, including Kim Won-hong, Yun Jong-rin, and Choe Pu-il. The
latter meeting was only the second of its kind in the history of the regime; the
first such meeting was held by Kim Jong-il in October 1993. While the subject
of the meeting was not revealed, it was one of the first meetings where Jo Kyongchol,
the Commander of the secretive MSC, played a prominent role. 522 He and
Choe Ryong-hae, Director of the KPA GPB, delivered speeches, suggesting that the
522 “Second Meeting of Security Personnel of KPA Held,” op. cit.
Ken E. Gause
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