North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un Fires Top General and Orders Military to Prepare for War
HONG KONG — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un dismissed his country’s top general and ordered the military to step up war preparations “in an offensive way,” state media reported Thursday. The meeting of the central military commission took place in Pyongyang on Wednesday, with Kim discussing plans against an unidentified enemy.
During the meeting, Kim pointed at Seoul and its surrounding areas on a map, symbolizing the target of their offensive plans, as revealed in pictures released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Alongside dismissing Gen. Pak Su Il from his position as chief of the general staff after only seven months, Kim appointed military veteran Ri Yong Gil, a former defense minister and chief of the general staff, as his replacement.
According to a report by Nbcnews.com, it remains to be seen whether Pak’s dismissal holds significant meaning. Ramon Pacheco Pardo, a professor of international relations at King’s College London, suggests that the key factor to observe is whether Pak loses all his positions. If this is the case, it could indicate a more significant change within the leadership structure of North Korea.
Experts believe that the recent meeting and the change in leadership positions do not necessarily indicate an increased threat from North Korea. Instead, it is seen as a reinforcement of the country’s previous message, as well as an escalation in rhetoric that has been ongoing for some time. North Korea has been actively launching missiles this year, with the most recent launch of the Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile, which officials claim has the capability to reach the U.S. mainland. The country has also made threats to shoot down American spy planes, accusing them of crossing into North Korean airspace.
At the recent meeting, Kim instructed the army to conduct drills and actively test new weapons. This directive follows his inspection of military factories on Sunday, where he urged them to increase their production capacity. Additionally, North Korea has vowed to launch satellites at any time after a failed attempt in late May, according to the state-run magazine Kumsu Kangsan.
In May, President Joe Biden met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Japan. Biden extended an invitation to Yoon and Kishida to a meeting at Camp David, Maryland later this month. The U.S. and South Korea are also set to hold joint military drills shortly following the meeting.
– North Korean leader Kim Jong Un removes the country’s top general and appoints a new chief of the general staff.
– The meeting of the central military commission in Pyongyang signifies an escalation in rhetoric and reinforcement of the country’s previous message.
– North Korea has been actively launching missiles, including an intercontinental ballistic missile, and has threatened to shoot down American spy planes.
– Kim orders the military to conduct drills and test new weapons, while also expressing the country’s intent to launch satellites.
– The U.S. and South Korea plan to hold joint military drills and continue discussions at a meeting in Camp David, Maryland.
Larissa Gao is a fellow on NBC’s Asia Desk, based in Hong Kong.