North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has dismissed the country’s defence minister as part of a sweeping military leadership shake-up, state media reported Sunday.
The “structural reorganization plans” were decided during a meeting on Saturday led by Kim Jong Un, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)Â .
No Kwang Chol was not only dismissed as defence minister but also demoted in the ruling party leadership to “first vice-director of the Munitions Industry Department” . Kim Song Gi, director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People’s Army, was named as the new defence minister .
Another senior official, defence advisor Pak Jong Chon, was appointed vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and named to the ruling party’s Political Bureau . Several other promotions were also announced .
The reshuffle was decided at the second meeting of the ninth WPK Central Military Commission, which was guided by leader Kim Jong-un .
In a separate report, KCNA said Kim had lauded scientists, researchers and officials at a ceremony on Saturday for their advances in defence technology, awarding them top national honours for their contributions to developing new combat weapon systems .
The leadership shuffle comes shortly after joint annual drills between South Korea and the United States wrapped up .
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