North Korean House of Cards

Committee list to 73rd on Jon Pyong-ho’s Funeral Committee list.
• Lieutenant General Choe Chun-sik (60) is the President of the
Second Academy of Natural Sciences. 714 He first appeared in North
Korean media standing next to Kim Jong-un in December 2012 as part
of the commemoration ceremonies for late leader Kim Jong-il. The
Second Academy of Natural Sciences is the research and development
wing of the North Korean defense industrial complex. It exists within
the Party apparatus and answers up the chain of command to the KWP
MID and Pak To-chun, the Secretary for Defense Industry. In January
2013, Choe was among several scientists to receive the DPRK Hero
title, Gold Star Medal, and the Order of National Flag, First Class for
his work on the successful launch of the Kwangmyongsong-3 rocket.
Several months later, in September 2013, he appeared in public wearing
the uniform of a lieutenant general. In addition to guidance inspections
where he accompanies Kim Jong-un, Choe most likely has a channel of
regular communication with the Supreme Leader on issues of weapons
development. 715 But whether that communication is directly with Kim
or through the KWP Secretary for Defense Industry is not clear. He
ranked 86th on Jon Pyong-ho’s Funeral Committee list.
2. Military
• General O Kum-chol (68) is a Vice Chief of the KPA GSD. He
succeeded Jo Myong-rok as Commander of the KPA Air and Anti-Air
Forces in 1995 and served in that position until 2008. His portfolio
within the GSD includes military strategy and planning as well as
relations with foreign militaries. He also participates in expanded
meetings of the KWP CMC and the Politburo. He most likely has
an occasional channel to Kim Jong-un. He was ranked 55th on Jon
Pyong-ho’s Funeral Committee list.
• General Pak Yong-sik is the Minister of People’s Armed Forces. 716 At the
end of April 2015, Hyon Yong-chol was apparently purged and executed.
In the following months, North Korean media began to highlight
714 According to a defector with ties to the Second National Academy of Sciences, Choe Chunsik
has been in charge of weapons development since the late 1990s.
715 According to one source, in the wake of the rocket launch, Kim Jong-un has increasingly
turned to Choe Chun-sik on issues of weapons development.
716 “Reception Given for Lao High-ranking Military Delegation,” KCNA, July 11, 2015.
Ken E. Gause
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