North Korea’s defence minister dismissed in reshuffle of military leadership

North Korea’s defence minister has been dismissed as part of a reshuffle of the country’s military leadership, state media reported Sunday.

The “structural reorganisation plans” were decided during a meeting on Saturday led by Kim Jong-un, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

No Kwang-chol was not only dismissed as defence minister but also demoted in the ruling party leadership to “first vice-director of the Munitions Industry Department”, KCNA said.

Kim Song-gi, director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People’s Army, was named as the new defence minister.

Another senior official, defence adviser Pak Jong-chon, was given the position of vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and named to the ruling party’s Political Bureau. Several other promotions were also announced.

In a separate report, KCNA said Kim had lauded scientists, researchers and officials at a ceremony on Saturday for their advances in defence technology, giving them top national honours.