Unification Ministry Publishes North Korea Directory and Power Structure Chart: "Focus on Organizational Stability Ahead of Party Congress"

It has been revealed that North Korea undertook personnel and organizational restructuring last year with a focus on "organizational stability" ahead of the 9th Party Congress. On January 13, the Ministry of Unification published the "2025 North Korea Directory of People, Biographical Information, and Power Structure Chart," which contains these details.

According to this report, the number of Standing Committee members of the Party Politburo in North Korea was reduced from five to four last year (Kim Jong Un, Kim Jong Un, Park Taesong, and Choe Ryonghae). Park Taesong was promoted to Standing Committee member after becoming Premier, while Ri Pyongchol, who had led munitions and missile development, is presumed to have been dismissed from both the Standing Committee of the Party Politburo and the Vice Chairman position of the Central Military Commission. Since last year, Ri Pyongchol has been identified as holding the positions of Politburo member and Chief Adviser for Munitions Policy.

There were also changes within the Politburo. Foreign Minister Choe Sonhui was promoted from candidate member to full member, and Ri Hiyong entered the party's core leadership as Party Secretary and Director of the Cadre Department. After stepping down as Premier, Kim Tokhun moved to the position of Party Secretary and Director of the Economic Department. The total number of Politburo members remained at 31.

The military command structure was also partially reorganized. Park Kwangseop became the Navy Commander, and the heads of Kim Jong Un's security and guard units-including the Party Central Committee Guard Bureau, the State Affairs Commission Escort Bureau, and the Guard Command-as well as the heads of major military educational institutions, were all replaced at once. It was also confirmed that Kim Youngbok, First Deputy Chief of the General Staff, performed a deployment mission to Russia as the commander of a special operations unit.

An official from the Ministry of Unification stated, "It is assessed that the focus was on organizational stability ahead of the Party Congress," adding, "Many cabinet names have changed, which appears to reflect the strengthening and expansion of their roles."