Ri Pyong-chol | |
---|---|
Commander of the Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force | |
In office unknown–unknown | |
Supreme Commander | Kim Jong Un |
Chairman | Kim Jong Un |
Succeeded by | Kim Kwang-hyok |
First Deputy Director of the Organization and Guidance Department | |
Assumed office unknown | |
Leader | Kim Jong Un |
Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea | |
Assumed office 21 June 2022 | |
Chairman | Kim Jong Un |
Preceded by | Seat created |
In office 23 May 2020 – 30 June 2021 | |
Preceded by | Choe Ryong-hae |
Personal details | |
Born | 1948 (age 75–76) North Korea |
Citizenship | North Korean |
Nationality | Korean |
Political party | Workers' Party of Korea |
Education | Red Flag Mangyongdae Revolutionary School |
Military service | |
Allegiance | North Korea |
Branch/service | Korean People's Army |
Years of service | 1965–present |
Rank | Marshal |
Korean name | |
Chosŏn'gŭl | 리병철 |
Hancha | |
Revised Romanization | I Byeong-cheol |
McCune–Reischauer | Ri Pyŏngch'ŏl |
Ri Pyong-chol ( Korean: 리병철, born 1948) [1] is a North Korean marshal and formerly a top advisor of supreme leader Kim Jong Un, who serves as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission and a member of the Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea. He is a relative of Kim's wife, Ri Sol-ju. He currently also serves as a director of a department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and First Deputy Director of the WPK Organization and Guidance Department (OGD). [3] [4]
General Ri's military and senior Party experience make him an important advisor to Kim Jong Un, especially during crisis. [4] He is an alternate member of the WPK Political Bureau, and a deputy to the Supreme People's Assembly. [5] Ri served in the Korean People's Army Air Force until 2014 at which time he became a senior party official. [6]
In December 2017, the U.S. Treasury department issued sanctions against him, blocking him from "any property or interests in property within U.S. jurisdiction, and prohibits [him] from transactions with American citizens". [7]
In late 2019, Ri became a director of a department of the Central Committee of the party, possibly of the Munitions Industry Department, where he was previously the senior deputy director. [8]
On 23 May 2020, Ri became a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea. [9] On 13 August he also became a member of the Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea. On 5 October, he was promoted to Marshal of the Korean People's Army. [10]
Following an unspecified "serious incident" in June 2021, Ri was stripped of his military title and demoted to a junior position in the party. [11] He was again identified as a Politburo Presidium member and secretary of the Central Committee at the celebrations for the 90th anniversary of the Korean People's Army on 25 April 2022.
During the 8 February 2023 parade, Ri was seen wearing all decorations awarded to him. [12]