Kim Jong-un Calls for "Nuclear War Deterrence"... Ri Pyong-chol, Key Figure in North Korea's Nuclear Development, Promoted Again

Reaffirming the Path to Strengthen National Defense Capability

At the Workers' Party Political Bureau meeting held on the 13th under the chairmanship of North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, Kim Duk-hoon, Vice Chairman of the Party, and Ri Pyong-chol, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, were elected as members of the Political Bureau Standing Committee, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
Photo by Ri Pyong-chol, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Ri Pyong-chol, the key figure behind North Korea's development of strategic weapons such as nuclear arms and missiles, has been elected as a member of the Politburo Standing Committee. This move, coinciding with North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un's repeated emphasis since the end of last year on "nuclear war deterrence" and strengthening national defense, is analyzed as signaling the direction of North Korea's external policy.

On the 14th, North Korea's state media Korean Central News Agency reported that at the Party Politburo meeting held the previous day under the chairmanship of Kim Jong-un, "Comrades Kim Tok-hun and Ri Pyong-chol were elected as members of the Party Central Committee Politburo Standing Committee."

Ri Pyong-chol is regarded as a core figure in North Korea's development of strategic weapons such as nuclear arms and missiles. Receiving strong trust from Chairman Kim, he has been on a rapid promotion track since the end of last year.

At the end of last year, he was appointed as the Party Vice Chairman in charge of military affairs and a Politburo member; in April, he became a State Affairs Commission member; in May, he took the position of Vice Chairman of the Party Central Military Commission, which had been vacant since 2014; and now, he has risen to the Politburo Standing Committee, firmly placing him at the core of power.

In August 2016, during the test launch of the submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) "Pukguksong," he was seen sitting and smoking alongside Kim Jong-un, and in June of the same year, a photo was released showing him embracing Kim after the successful launch of the Musudan medium-range missile.

At the 7th Party Congress 5th Plenary Meeting held from December 28 to 31 last year, Kim Jong-un stated, "We will reliably maintain a constant readiness posture for the strong nuclear deterrent," adding, "The scope and depth of our deterrent strength will be adjusted upward depending on the future stance of the United States toward North Korea."

In May, presiding over an expanded meeting of the Party Central Military Commission, he presented "new policies to further strengthen nuclear war deterrence," and on the 67th anniversary of the Korean War armistice last month on the 27th, he declared, "With our reliable and effective self-defensive nuclear deterrent, there will be no more talk of war on this land, and the safety and future of our nation will be guaranteed forever."

Ri Pyong-chol's appointment is evaluated as North Korea's renewed demonstration to both domestic and international audiences of its determination to continuously strengthen its defense capabilities centered on nuclear weapons and missiles.

Additionally, the Party Politburo Standing Committee, the core of North Korea's governance and a symbol of power, has expanded from the existing three members?Chairman Kim Jong-un, Choe Ryong-hae, Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly Standing Committee and First Vice Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, and Pak Pong-ju, Vice Chairman of the State Affairs Commission and Party Vice Chairman?to five members by adding newly appointed Premier Kim Tok-hun and Ri Pyong-chol, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Military Commission and Party Vice Chairman. The formation of the Politburo Standing Committee as a five-member body is interpreted as an intention to strengthen the Party-centered national governance system.

On the 13th, North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un held a Workers' Party Political Bureau meeting to discuss flood recovery measures, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 14th. The agenda of the meeting included maintaining the national emergency epidemic prevention system, lifting the lockdown in Kaesong and the front-line areas, establishing new departments within the Party Central Committee, and reviewing the commemorative events for the 75th anniversary of the Party's founding.

Meanwhile, Party Vice Chairman Kim Tok-hun has been appointed as the new Premier, replacing Kim Jae-ryong, who stepped down from the position. On the same day, North Korea announced a "State Affairs Commission decree" in the name of Chairman Kim, stating, "Comrade Kim Jae-ryong is dismissed from the position of Premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," and "Comrade Kim Tok-hun is appointed as Premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."

The new Premier Kim Tok-hun is relatively young at 59 years old within the North Korean cadre ranks and is known as a "Party official who understands the economy." He has held positions such as director of the Taedan Electric Factory, chairman of the Jagang Province People's Committee, and Deputy Premier of the Cabinet. Notably, following his predecessor Kim Jae-ryong, Kim Tok-hun also achieved results in Jagang Province, the sacred ground of North Korea's military industry, demonstrating that being from Jagang Province is a successful gateway.