Ri Pyong-chol

Ri Pyong-chol (Korean: 리병철, born 1948)^[1] is a North Korean military official and formerly a top advisor of supreme leader Kim Jong Un, who serves as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission and a member of the Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea. He is a relative of Kim's wife, Ri Sol-ju. He currently also serves as a director of a department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and First Deputy Director of the WPK Organization and Guidance Department (OGD).^[3][4] General Ri's military and senior Party experience make him an important advisor to Kim Jong Un, especially during crisis.^[4] He is an alternate member of the WPK Political Bureau, and a deputy to the Supreme People's Assembly.^[5] Ri served in the Korean People's Army Air Force until 2014 at which time he became a senior party official.^[6]

In December 2017, the U.S. Treasury department issued sanctions against him, blocking him from "any property or interests in property within U.S. jurisdiction, and prohibits [him] from transactions with American citizens".^[7]

In late 2019, Ri became a director of a department of the Central Committee of the party, possibly of the Munitions Industry Department, where he was previously the senior deputy director.^[8]

On 23 May 2020, Ri became a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea.^[9] On 13 August he also became a member of the Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea. On 5 October, he was promoted to Marshal of the Korean People's Army.^[10]

Following an unspecified "serious incident" in June 2021, Ri was stripped of his military title and demoted to a junior position in the party.^[11] He was again identified as a Politburo Presidium member and secretary of the Central Committee at the celebrations for the 90th anniversary of the Korean People's Army on 25 April 2022.^[12][13]

Awards and honors

During the 8 February 2023 parade, Ri was seen wearing all decorations awarded to him.^[14]

References

1. ^ "ko:리병철" [Ri Pyong-chol] (in Korean). Ministry of Unification. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
2. ^ 리병철(李炳哲)LEE Byeong Cheol 연합뉴스
3. ^ "The NDC's Fall Lineup: Results of the 13th SPA". 38 North. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
4. ^ Collins, Robert. "North Korea's ORGANIZATION AND GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT". hrnk.org. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
5. ^ "Ri Pyong Chol | North Korea Leadership Watch". nkleadershipwatch.org. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
6. ^ "Who Are the North Korean Officials Sanctioned by the U.S.? Kim Jong Sik and Ri Pyong Chol Are the Real Rocket Men". newsweek.com. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
7. ^ "Treasury issues sanctions against 2 North Korean officials | Chicago Sun-Times". chicago.suntimes.com. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
8. ^ Kim, Jeongmin (1 January 2020). "North Korea's New Year's Eve party plenum reveals major leadership reshuffle". NK News. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
9. ^ Zwirko, Colin (24 May 2020). "Rising stars: North Korea promotes two high-profile military officials". NK News. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
10. ^ "Title of KPA Marshal Conferred in DPRK". Korean Central News Agency. 6 October 2020.
11. ^ "North Korea reveals new top military brass days after politburo meeting". NK News. 6 September 2021.
12. ^ ariusderr (2022-04-29). "Ri Pyong Chol, demoted last year for 'grave incident,' returns to power". NK PRO. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
13. ^ 남상현 (2022-04-26). "Ri Pyong-chol reinstated as top N. Korean official | Yonhap News Agency". Yonhap News Agency. Archived 2022-05-25 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
14. ^ "ko:조선인민군창건 75돐경축 열병식 성대히 거행 DPRK Military Parade Marks 75th KPA Birthday 朝鮮人民軍創建７５周年慶祝閲兵式(軍パレード)盛大に挙行", retrieved 2023-02-10

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