North Korean House of Cards

Name Position(s) Comments
Military/
Security
Vice Marshal
Hwang
Pyong-so
(66)
General Ri
Yong-gil (60)
General Kim
Won-hong
(70)
• Director of the
GPB (2014)
• Member of the
Politburo Presidium
(2015)
• Vice Chairman
of the NDC
(2014)
• Chief of the
GSD (since
August 2013)
• Alternate
Member of the
Politburo (since
April 2014)
• Member of the
Politburo (since
2012)
• Member of the
CMC (since
2010)
• Member of the
NDC (since
2012)
• Director of the
State Security
Department
(since 2012)
Responsible for securing the loyalty of the
military to Kim Jong-un. Widely considered
the second most powerful man in the
regime. Hwang Pyong-so’s rapid promotion
suggests that he has become one of
Kim Jong-un’s most trusted advisors. His
background in security affairs in the OGD
has been most useful in his oversight of
the military.
Responsible for the operational status of the
armed forces. Former Director of the GSD
Operations Bureau. With a rapid rise into
the inner circle, Ri was ranked fourth and
fifth respectively on Kim Kuk-tae’s and Jon
Pyong-ho’s Funeral Committee lists.
Kim Won-hong’s status has been tied to
Kim Jong-un more than that of any other
member of the North Korean leadership.
He publicly appeared in leadership circles
in 2010 and has been a frequent member
of Kim Jong-un’s guidance inspections,
where he would have direct access to the
Supreme Leader. He was ranked fifteenth
on Jon Pyong-ho’s Funeral Committee list,
a rank that understates his real influence.
Ken E. Gause
81