North Korea’s top military official appears to have been expelled from the ruling party’s highest decision-making body for a second time in the last four years, a development that may be related to problems with arms shipments to Russia for use against Ukraine.

A photo released by North Korean state media on Jan. 2 suggests that the December party plenum quietly removed Ri Pyong Chol, marshal of the Korean People’s Army, from the Politburo Presidium.

During the annual New Year’s visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, Ri should have stood