
North Korea appointed party secretary Pak Thae-song as the new premier to replace Kim Tok-hun in a major personnel reshuffle during a year-end plenary party meeting, state media reported Sunday.
The reshuffle was reported by the Korean Central News Agency at the conclusion of the annual year-end general meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, held from Monday to Friday and presided over by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Pak has been among the top cadres seen alongside Kim during the North Korean leader's recent major public activities, including his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Russia's Vostochny space center last year.
Pak, a member of the party Central Committee's Political Bureau since 2021, was also elected to a promoted position as a presidium member of the Politburo during the recent party session.
The shift leaves Kim Tok-hun out of office four years and four months after he assumed the position of premier in 2020 at the age of 59.
In the reshuffle, Kim Jong-gwan was named vice premier of the cabinet, while Kwon Song-hwan and Kim Yong-sik were appointed as new ministers for resources development and commerce, respectively, in a move widely seen aimed at accelerating the implementation of the country's economic policies.
Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and Ri Yong-gil, chief of the Korean People's Army general staff, were also elected as members of the Politburo, the KCNA said.
The two are believed to have earned promotions in recognition of their roles in strengthening North Korea's relations with Russia through recent back-to-back exchanges and the deployment of North Korean troops to fight for Russia in its war against Ukraine.
Four more key officials were also elected as members of the Politburo, including Defense Minister No Kwang-chol; Ri Hi-yong, chief secretary of the North Phyongan Provincial Committee of the WPK; Kim Jong Gwan; and Choe Tong-myong, the KCNA said. (Yonhap)