Who is North Korea’s new defense minister after the latest military reshuffle?

Kim Song-gi, director of the General Political Bureau of the North Korean People’s Army, was appointed as defense minister. He replaced No Kwang-chol in the reshuffle reported by KCNA.

Why did North Korea reshuffle its military leadership under Kim Jong-un?

KCNA said the reshuffle came as North Korea accelerates military modernization and tightens discipline within the ranks. The commission also discussed structural reorganization plans for improving future defense affairs.

What did Kim Jong-un say about North Korea’s defense research achievements?

Kim met scientists, researchers and officials from major defense research institutions and gave them state commendations. He praised their work on new combat weapon systems and said the recent achievements opened a prospect for improving the modernity of the army’s weapons.

N. Korea names new defense minister amid modernization drive

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Summary

North Korea replaced its defense minister in a senior military reshuffle as part of its military modernization drive and tighter discipline. Kim Song-gi was appointed defense minister, replacing No Kwang-chol, while Pak Jong-chon was named vice-chairman of the WPK Central Military Commission. The reshuffle was decided at the second meeting of the ninth WPK Central Military Commission, guided by Kim Jong-un. KCNA also said Kim met defense research scientists and praised their work on new combat weapon systems.

Key Facts

No Kwang-chol was removed as defense minister and from the party’s central leadership, then appointed first vice-director of the Munitions Industry Department of the Workers’ Party of Korea.
Pak Jong-chon was re-elected as a member of the party’s Central Committee and Politburo before being appointed vice-chairman of the WPK Central Military Commission.
The KCNA said the commission meeting discussed structural reorganization plans for the improvement and development of future defense affairs.
Kim Jong-un met scientists, researchers and officials from major defense research institutions and awarded them state commendations for contributions to new combat weapon systems.
Kim described the recent military sci-tech achievements as a great revolution that opened a prospect for radically improving the modernity of the army’s combat weapon systems.

By Yonhap

Published Aug 30, 2026 7:56 am KST
Updated Aug 30, 2026 10:10 am KST

This file photo, released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, shows Kim Song-gi, left, wearing the rank insignia of a general at a joint party, government and military meeting in Pyongyang on July 10. In the photo at right, Kim is seen wearing the rank insignia of a senior general at the first enlarged meeting of the ninth Central Military Commission the previous day. Yonhap

North Korea has replaced its defense minister in a reshuffle of senior military leadership, state media reported Sunday, as the country accelerates its military modernization push and tightens discipline within the ranks.

Kim Song-gi, director of the General Political Bureau of the North's Korean People's Army, was appointed as the country's new defense minister, replacing No Kwang-chol, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

No was removed as defense minister and from the party's central leadership and appointed first vice-director of the Munitions Industry Department of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).

The reshuffle was decided at the second meeting of the ninth WPK Central Military Commission held the previous day, which was guided by leader Kim Jong-un, the report said.

In the latest reshuffle, veteran military official Pak Jong-chon was appointed vice-chairman of the WPK Central Military Commission after being re-elected as a member of the party's Central Committee and Politburo.

Pak returned to the forefront of the North's military leadership after stepping down from the Politburo and party secretary posts and being dropped from the Central Military Commission's vice chairmanship in February. His removal at the time sparked speculation that he was stepping back from the front lines due to his age.

The vice chairmanship is a key post overseeing the North's military policies. Leader Kim Jong-un chairs the commission.

The meeting "discussed a series of structural reorganization plans for the improvement and development of the future overall defense affairs," the KCNA said.

The newly appointed commanders would "firmly arm themselves with the party's idea of building a strong army" and implement the party's military policies with "boundless devotion and extraordinarily high activity," the report said.

In a separate dispatch, KCNA reported that Kim met with scientists, researchers and officials from major defense research institutions and awarded them state commendations for their contributions to developing new combat weapon systems and improving their performance.

Calling them "the greatest patriots and heroes," Kim highly appreciated "the recent exclusive innovative military sci-tech achievements ... as a great revolution that opened up a sure prospect for radically improving the modernity of our army's combat weapon systems."

The leader expressed expectation that the science researchers "would bolster up the arms of the self-defensive power in a more overwhelming and stronger manner," the report said.

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