The North Korean authorities promoted 100 military officials including four generals just one day before the 98th anniversary of Kim Il Sung’s birth, according to the country’s media.
The Chosun Central News Agency (KCNA) reported yesterday that Kim Jong Il, acting as supreme commander, had handed down Order No. 0045 which promoted leading Chosun People’s Army officials.
Four were apparently made generals: Chief Vice-director of the National Security Agency U Dong Cheuk, Commander Lee Byung Cheol (Air Force), Admiral Jung Myung Do (Navy), and Artillery Commander Jung Ho Gyun (Army).
Notably, U Dong Cheuk was promoted onto the National Defense Commission via the first meeting of the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly recently, and now has been promoted again in the same year.
Five officials became lieutenant generals: Choi Kyung Sung, Choi Sang Ryeo, Jeon Chang Bok, and Oh Cheol San. Eight were promoted to major general, including Lee Ju Hong and Kim Su Kil, while another 83 officials including Ham Ryong Choel and Sohn Kyung Bok were elevate to brigadier general.
The largest such promotion of military officials occurred in 1997, when 129 officials saw a change of status, while this promotion is the second one since the Kim Jong Il regime’s official launch in 1998.
Experts on North Korea interpret this measure as an attempt to boost the military authorities’ morale and establish the Kim Jong Eun succession system.
A professor with the Korean National Defense University, Kim Yeon Su analyzed, “It was done in the same context as the elevation of the status of the People’s Safety Ministry. Widespread promotion of high officials within the National Security Agency including U Dong Cheuk was likely a way to strengthen the NSA.”
Therefore, Kim believes, “It seems to be closely related to the succession system. Officials loyal to Kim Jong Eun may be being placed in core positions within the military.”
A lower military official in North Korea is usually promoted through a so-called Order of the Supreme Commander, while higher levels are promoted according to the decision of the Central Committee of the Party and the National Defense Commission on the birthdays of Kim Il Sung or Kim Jong Il, or on the Founding Day of the Workers’ Party.
