North Korea shakes up military leadership amid war preparations

In a striking move, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has dismissed the top general of the military amidst escalating tensions and war possibilities. As reported by the state media, KCNA on Thursday, the leadership change comes as North Korea boosts its weapons production and widens military exercises.

Pak Su Il, who served as the Chief of the General Staff for approximately seven months, was let go. He’s succeeded by General Ri Yong Gil, a familiar face in North Korean defense. Ri Yong Gil had previously served as the country’s defense minister and top commander of its conventional troops. Notably, in 2016, Ri Yong Gil’s brief disappearance from the public eye had sparked execution rumors in South Korea. These speculations were silenced when he was later nominated for another senior position.

In a recent Central Military Commission meeting, Kim Jong Un addressed the increasing threats faced by the nation, without naming the adversaries specifically. In addition to leadership changes, the North Korean dictator outlined an expansion target for weapons production. During a recent visit to weapon factories, he emphasized the need to increase the production of missile engines, artillery, and various other armaments.

North Korea Targets Seoul on Map, Intensifies Military Drills. Photo courtesy of Alexei Nikolsky, The Presidential Press and Information Office/Wikimedia Commons.

Photos from KCNA show Kim Jong Un studying a map and pointing to Seoul and its surrounding areas. This gesture heightens concerns given recent accusations by the U.S. that North Korea has been supplying Russia with weapons, including artillery shells and missiles, for the Ukraine invasion. Both Russia and North Korea have denied these allegations.

In preparation for potential conflicts, Kim Jong Un has directed the military to conduct drills utilizing the country’s most advanced weaponry. North Korea also plans to showcase its military prowess in an upcoming militia parade on September 9, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Day of the Foundation of the Republic.

Complicating matters, the United States and South Korea have scheduled military exercises from August 21 to 24, a move North Korea perceives as a direct security threat.