North Korea's new 'number two'? Leadership shuffle seen in hermit state
An official news report identified Hwang Pyong-so as the director of the Korean People's Army; his predecessor's fate is unknown
North Korea has signalled a key leadership change with an announcement that the man seen as Kim Jong-un’s second in command has been replaced as political chief of the military.
In a report on May Day celebrations in Pyongyang, the North’s official KCNA news agency identified Hwang Pyong-so as the director of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) General Political Bureau, not Choe Ryong-hae, who previously held the position.
The post is generally viewed as the second most important in the military after Kim, who is supreme commander.
The leadership change comes amid growing concerns that the North is preparing to conduct a fourth nuclear test in the face of stern international opposition after satellite images showed a recent increase in activity at the country’s main test site.
“To all intents and purposes, this makes Hwang, who also has close personal ties to Kim Jong-un, the second-most powerful man in the country,” said Michael Madden, author and editor of the NK Leadership Watch website.
Hwang’s appointment came just days after KCNA reported his promotion to the rank of vice marshal on April 28 — a rank shared with Choe and just four others.