Former GPB Boss Attends KJU Photo-op
Kwon Yong Jin (third from the left) at a 28 July 2022 photo-op with Kim Jong Un (Photo: KCNA)
Kim Jong Un greets a senior KPA official who appears to be former GPB Director Kwon Yong Jin (Photo: KCNA-Yonhap)
Former Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Bureau [GPB] Director Kwon Yong Jin (Kwon Yo’ng-chin) has resurfaced after being removed from office in June 2022. Kwon attended a commemorative photo-op with Kim Jong Un (KJU; Kim Cho’ng-u’n) for revolutionary and war history lecturers at the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum on 28 July (Thursday). As KJU leaves the photo session, he beckons Kwon and exchanges some words with him. He appears to be demoted to Colonel General, as indicated by the three stars on his shoulder boards. Kwon’s last observed appearance was during the first day of the Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Central Committee 5th plenum in June when he was formally removed as GPB boss (although it is highly probable that he was dismissed in May). Kwon Yong Jin served as the GPB boss from late 2019 until 2022.
KPA General Staff Department Operations Bureau Choe Tu Yong (right) salutes during the 25 April 2022 parade marking the 90th anniversary of the KPRA (Photo: KCNA).
