North Korean House of Cards

as the “Storm Corps.” He first drew attention from the Pyongyangwatching
community in April 2010, when he was promoted to colonel
general. These promotions, which came on the eve of Kim Il-sung’s
birthday, were handed out to “rising stars” of the Kim Jong-un era. The
fact that Choe Kyong-song’s name was the first called out among the
five newly promoted colonel generals suggests his special relationship
with Kim Jong-un. Later, at the Third Party Conference in September,
he was made a member of the newly invigorated CMC; he was the
only field corps commander appointed to the nineteen-member body.
Although his direct ties to Kim Jong-un were unclear, he was one of
only four commanders to speak at the December 17 loyalty pledge at
Kumsusan Palace of Sun—something that earmarked him as having
special status with regard to the Supreme Leader. 722 In February, Choe,
who had been demoted in 2014 to lieutenant general, was replaced as
Commander of the 11th Corps by Lieutenant General Kim Yong-bok.
Although it is not clear whether Choe has been transferred to another
posting, after his removal from the 11th Corps post, he was again
promoted to colonel general [sangjang].
• Colonel General So Hong-chan is reportedly a member of the KWP
CMC, First Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces since 2013,
and Director of the General Logistics Bureau. He first appeared in
North Korean media in April 2007 upon promotion to major general
and then suddenly rose as a core military figure of the Kim Jong-un
regime by being promoted to lieutenant general in 2009 and colonel
general in November 2013. He began accompanying Kim Jong-un on
guidance inspections in May 2013. He is reportedly the Director of
the GLD and was ranked 44th on Jon Pyong-ho’s Funeral Committee
list. In May 2015, rumors began to surface that So had been purged,
presumably because of his links to Hyon Yong-chol, the former
Minister of People’s Armed Forces. However, he appeared in July 2015
with Kim Jong-un at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun. He also appeared
on the leadership rostrum for the 70th Anniversary of the founding of
the Party.
722 The other speakers were Ri Yong-gil (Fifth Corps Commander), Jang Jong-nam (First Corps
Commander), and Kim Hyong-ryong (Second Corps Commander). Since then, Ri Yong-gil became the
Director of the GSD Operations Bureau (and apparently Chief of the GSD), and Jang Jong-nam became
the Minister of the People’s Armed Forces.
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