North Korea names new defense minister, KCNA says


North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends the 2nd Plenary Meeting of the 9th Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, North Korea, August 29, 2026, in this photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). KCNA via REUTERS

SEOUL, Aug ⁠30 (Reuters) - North Korean leader ⁠Kim Jong Un overhauled ‌his senior military leadership, appointing Kim Song-gi as defense minister ​and restoring veteran strategist ⁠Pak Jong-chon ⁠as vice chairman of the ⁠Central ‌Military Commission, state media outlet KCNA ⁠reported on Sunday.

Kim Song-gi, previously ​the ‌director of the military’s political ⁠bureau, ​replaces No Kwang-chol, who was reassigned to a ⁠senior role within the ​powerful Munitions Industry Department.

The high-level reshuffle coincides with Kim ⁠Jong Un honoring defense scientists for advancing the country's combat weaponry at a ​time when ⁠Pyongyang has moved closer to ​Moscow amid ‌Russia's war with Ukraine.

(Reporting ​by Cynthia Kim; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus)

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