At a recent expanded meeting of the party Political Bureau (PB), Kim Jong Un dismissed Ri Man Gon as vice chairman of the party Central Committee (CC), on grounds of irregularities among cadres in the party CC and a party cadre training institution. His dismissal was highly unusual for the publicity given to it, and for the reason for his removal — transgressions in the party.

It remains uncertain whether Ri was dismissed from his party vice chairman position only, or if he was stripped of his other titles as well. Given the unusual handling of his dismissal, it is