Kim Jong Un Reorganizes North Korea's Military Leadership

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un removed Defense Minister No Kwang Chol. He was replaced by Kim Song Gi, director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army.

Official media confirmed today (Sunday) that military leadership changes have been implemented.

The official Korean Central News Agency stated that structural reorganization decisions were made during a meeting chaired yesterday (Saturday) by the North Korean leader.

The agency added that No Kwang Chol was not only dismissed from his post as defense minister but also demoted within the ruling party’s leadership to become "Deputy Director of the Ammunition Industry Administration".

Defense Advisor Bak Jong Choon was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the ruling party and member of the party's Political Bureau, along with a series of other promotions.

It was reported that Kim praised scientists, researchers, and officials at a ceremony honoring their achievements in defense technology, awarding them the country's highest honors.

The agency added that the honorees made significant contributions to "solving historically important scientific and technical problems in developing new combat weapon systems," without specifying details.

It noted that the state weapons research center recently developed exclusive technologies, marking a notable milestone in enhancing the nation's warfighting capability. The agency said these technologies demonstrated the country's unique trajectory of military and technological advancement.

In late June, Kim oversaw tests of a new long-range multiple rocket launch system.

This military leadership overhaul comes shortly after the conclusion of joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States. These drills, regularly condemned by Pyongyang as preparations for invasion, received close scrutiny this year after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a reduction in American participation.

Trump criticized the exercises, calling them provocative toward North Korea, and attacked Seoul for failing to support his campaign against Iran. The U.S. president expressed admiration for North Korean leader Kim, whom he met twice during his first term, while expressing interest in holding a new summit with him.

Cooperation between Washington and its regional allies is set to continue, as South Korea, the United States, and Japan plan to conduct trilateral joint exercises named "Freedom Edge" in waters east and south of South Korea's Jeju Island from September 7 to 11.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that these exercises are annual defensive training efforts by the three nations aimed at countering North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and maintaining peace and stability in the region.