SEOUL, April 15 (UPI) — North Korea has promoted a handful of military generals, a few months after the alleged execution of military chief Ri Yong Gil.
Ri Myong Su, who replaced Ri Yong Gil as the new chief of the Korean People’s Army General Staff, was promoted to vice marshal, South Korean news site Money Today reported.
Kim Yong Chun and Hyon Chol Hae, both of the Korean People’s Army, were promoted to marshal.
On Friday, KCNA reported titles were being awarded on the occasion of the Great Comrade Kim Il Sung’s birthday.
“These individuals, with the exceptional trust and love of Comrades Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, have performed their duties for a long period of time, while contributing to the development of revolutionary armed forces,” North Korea said in statement.
North Korea had two marshals in the military, O Jin U and Ri Ul Sol, but O died in February 1995 and Ri Ul Sol died in November 2015.
Ri Myong Su has made several appearances alongside North Korean leader Kim Jong Un since assuming Ri Yong Gil’s position in the military ranks.
Ri Yong Gil also was by Kim’s side at state events for more than two years, but was likely executed on charges of corruption or due to political infighting within the regime.
One source said that Ri, a field army officer by training, had expressed disapproval of Kim’s policies, and was found guilty of lèse majesté, or offending the dignity of Kim’s status as a reigning sovereign.
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