Who did Pak Jong Chon likely replace in the presidium?

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Pak Jong Chon Likely Replaced Ri Pyong-chol in North Korea's Politburo Presidium

Pak Jong Chon has been elevated to the presidium of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) politburo, a significant move that analysts suggest likely positions him as the successor to Ri Pyong-chol. This promotion also sees Pak assume the role of secretary of the WPK Central Committee, underscoring his increased influence within the party's highest echelons.
Pak Jong Chon's Ascent in Military Ranks

In recent years, Pak Jong Chon achieved the rank of a full four-star Army general and held the crucial position of chief of the general staff of the army. His prominent public appearances alongside leader Kim Jong-un, including during the symbolic horse ride up Mt. Paektu, highlighted his growing importance. Analysts have attributed a significant portion of his rise to his direct involvement in North Korea's development of short-range missiles, a program that saw increased focus after Kim Jong-un paused long-range ballistic missile tests in 2018.
Ri Pyong-chol's Previous Role and Potential Departure

Ri Pyong-chol was another influential general who played a pivotal role in North Korea's ballistic missile programme. His apparent replacement by Pak Jong Chon on the presidium suggests a significant shift in the composition of the party's top decision-making body. While the exact circumstances of Ri's departure from the presidium are not detailed, such reshuffling within the North Korean elite is often interpreted as a signal of leader Kim Jong-un's expectations of accountability.
Context of Recent Personnel Changes

Pak Jong Chon's election to the presidium follows an apparent reprimand or demotion he faced in July. At that time, Kim Jong-un had criticised officials for creating a "great crisis" due to unspecified coronavirus-related lapses, though North Korea has maintained it has no confirmed cases of the virus. This period also saw other significant personnel changes, including the appointment of Rim Kwang-il as chief of the general staff of the army and Jang Jong-nam as Minister of Social Security, indicating a broader reorganisation of key leadership positions.

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Who did Pak Jong Chon likely replace in the presidium?

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