Deciphering the return of No Kwang Chol as North Korea’s minister of defense



Analysis Deciphering the return of No Kwang Chol as North Korea’s minister of defense No brings experience on weapons procurement as shakeup coincides with reported ROK drone interception failure Colin Zwirko October 17, 2024 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON No Kwang Chol in his official new portrait as minister of National Defense \| Image: KCTV (Oct. 9, 2024) North Korea’s rubber-stamp parliament approved leader Kim Jong Un’s apparent choice of new defense minister No Kwang Chol last week, marking the official’s comeback following a demotion to a role he held five years ago. No has roots in the weapons production industry and rose to prominence in the DPRK military under Kim Jong Un, culminating in a stint as minister of People’s Armed Forces, the former name of the Ministry of National Defense (MND), from 2018 to 2019. He was subsequently removed and demoted two ranks until his sudden return to army Read More © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01Lessons from chaos: What Kim Jong Un sees in an era of global turmoil 02In 2024, Kim Jong Un swaggered on the global stage like never before 03Military dominates Kim Jong Un’s attention in his busiest year in nearly decade 04How Trump’s return could transform North Korea’s quiet ties with Thailand 05How Assad’s downfall could expose secrets of North Korea-Syria military ties 06All the companies that participated in the Pyongyang Autumn Trade Fair 2024 07No Chinese firms joined North Korea’s latest trade fair dominated by Russia 08What defectors’ exam scores reveal about the quality of North Korean health care

Analysis

Deciphering the return of No Kwang Chol as North Korea’s minister of defense

No brings experience on weapons procurement as shakeup coincides with reported ROK drone interception failure

Colin Zwirko October 17, 2024

Deciphering the return of No Kwang Chol as North Korea’s minister of defense

No Kwang Chol in his official new portrait as minister of National Defense | Image: KCTV (Oct. 9, 2024)

North Korea’s rubber-stamp parliament approved leader Kim Jong Un’s apparent choice of new defense minister No Kwang Chol last week, marking the official’s comeback following a demotion to a role he held five years ago.

No has roots in the weapons production industry and rose to prominence in the DPRK military under Kim Jong Un, culminating in a stint as minister of People’s Armed Forces, the former name of the Ministry of National Defense (MND), from 2018 to 2019.

He was subsequently removed and demoted two ranks until his sudden return to army

01Lessons from chaos: What Kim Jong Un sees in an era of global turmoil
02In 2024, Kim Jong Un swaggered on the global stage like never before
03Military dominates Kim Jong Un’s attention in his busiest year in nearly decade
04How Trump’s return could transform North Korea’s quiet ties with Thailand
05How Assad’s downfall could expose secrets of North Korea-Syria military ties
06All the companies that participated in the Pyongyang Autumn Trade Fair 2024
07No Chinese firms joined North Korea’s latest trade fair dominated by Russia
08What defectors’ exam scores reveal about the quality of North Korean health care

Deciphering the return of No Kwang Chol as North Korea’s minister of defense

LATEST ANALYSIS

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Colin Zwirko