On Sept. 30, North Korean state media published footage of a Politburo meeting that clearly showed minister of state security Jong Kyong Thaek with the rank of three-star general. This apparent demotion immediately created buzz among South Korean media organizations.

The minister of state security had only been promoted from three-star to four-star general on May 23, which made this demotion especially notable. 

The same order by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un also had promoted Pak Jong Chon to vice-marshal, the first promotion to this position for years. Pak and Jong were the only persons promoted