Archive · 30 Aug 2026
North Korea Replaces Defence Minister Amid US-South Korea Drill Tensions
North Korea changed several important military jobs.
Leader Kim Jong Un led the meeting approving the changes on Saturday.
Defence Minister No Kwang Chol lost his position and moved to a lower-ranking party job.
Kim Song-gi became the new defence minister.
Pak Jong-chon received two important military and political roles.
The reshuffle happened soon after military exercises involving the United States and South Korea ended.
North Korea says such exercises can look like practice for an invasion.
Kim also honoured scientists and officials who helped develop new weapons.
Kim Jong Un oversaw a military reshuffle that removed Defence Minister No Kwang Chol.
No was reassigned as first vice-director of the Workers’ Party’s Munitions Industry Department.
Kim Song-gi, head of the Korean People’s Army’s General Political Bureau, became defence minister.
Pak Jong-chon was appointed vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and joined the Politburo.
The changes followed shortened US-South Korea drills as Kim honoured officials involved in weapons development.
- Who
- Kim Jong Un, No Kwang Chol, Kim Song-gi and Pak Jong-chon were central figures in the reshuffle.
- What
- North Korea replaced its defence minister and changed several senior military and party posts.
- When
- The changes were approved on Saturday, August 29, and reported by state media on Sunday, August 30.
- Where
- The leadership changes occurred in North Korea; the related drills involved the United States and South Korea.
- Why
- KCNA attributed the changes to structural reorganisation plans, while the reshuffle followed heightened tensions surrounding annual US-South Korea military drills.
North Korea’s Position
United States’ Position
Joint military exercises
North Korea’s Position
North Korea routinely condemns US-South Korea drills as preparations for an invasion and continued criticizing the cooperation after the exercises were shortened.
United States’ Position
Donald Trump called the exercises provocative and ordered the Pentagon chief to reduce the number of joint exercises with South Korea.
Renewed engagement
North Korea’s Position
Pyongyang has shown little sign of responding to Trump’s reported interest in another meeting and has continued missile launches and criticism of the drills.
United States’ Position
Donald Trump has expressed interest in meeting Kim Jong Un again after holding two summits with him during his first term.
Regional policies
North Korea’s Position
North Korea criticized Washington’s approval of arms sales to South Korea and plans to fund programs documenting alleged human rights abuses in North Korea.
United States’ Position
The United States approved arms sales to South Korea and planned programs documenting alleged human rights abuses in North Korea.
- Outgoing defence minister
- No Kwang Chol was removed as defence minister and appointed first vice-director of the Munitions Industry Department.
- New defence minister
- Kim Song-gi, director of the Korean People’s Army’s General Political Bureau, was appointed to the post.
- Pak Jong-chon’s appointments
- Pak became vice-chairman of the Workers’ Party of Korea Central Military Commission and was elected to the Politburo.
- Official explanation
- KCNA said the meeting discussed structural reorganisation plans to improve and develop North Korea’s future defence affairs.
- Military drills
- The reshuffle followed annual US-South Korea military exercises that were shortened after criticism from Donald Trump.
- Weapons honours
- Kim awarded state commendations to scientists, researchers and officials involved in developing new combat weapon systems.
- Recent weapons test
- In late June, Kim oversaw tests of an extended-range multiple rocket launcher and artillery system.
