RPC’s Advisorial Relationship
Ri Pyong Chol briefs KJU about UAVs during a 25-26 March 2025 visit to the Unmanned Aerial Technology Complex. Also in attendance is WPK Secretary and CMC Vice Chairman Pak Jong Chon (Photo:KCNA)
Ri Pyong Chol (Ri Pyo’ng-ch’o’l) has been identified by that august of titles “General Advisor.” During Kim Jong Un’s (KJU; Kim Cho’ng-u’n) 25-26 March inspection of the Unmanned Aerial Technology Complex under the Academy of Defense Sciences, Ri Pyong Chol was identified by KCNA as “General Advisor of the munitions policy of the WPK Central Committee.”
Ri has been KJU’s key WMD advisor and the regime’s consistent leading official with the defense industry and R&D portfolio since 2014. He has had two absences from North Korean public life. His role had also been eclipsed in recent years by WPK Munitions Industry Department Senior Deputy Director Kim Jong Sik (Kim Cho’ng-sik). His presence at KJU’s 25-26 March inspections indicates that the Unmanned Aerial Technology Complex is Ri Pyong Chol’s last big project.
Aside from his General Adviser position, it is unclear what other high political offices Ri Pyong Chol still holds. It is safe to assume he remains a member of the Central Committee and deputy to the Supreme People’s Assembly [SPA], as well as a Marshal of the KPA. However, in state media reporting he was introduced after two full Political Bureau Members, WPK Secretary for Military Affairs Pak Jong Chon (Pak Chong-chon) and WPK Secretary for Defense Industry Jo Chun Ryong (Cho Chun-ryo’ng).
Ri was front and center with other Political Bureau Presidium Members when WPK Central Committee officials visited Ku’mdusan for 16 February (Day of the Shining Star; KJI’s b-day). Since mid-February it is highly probable that Ri lost his Presidium status and currently has alternate (candidate) status on the Political Bureau. Another Central Committee General Advisor, Kim Yong Chol (Kim Yo’ng-ch’o’l), also has alternate Political Bureau status.
Ri Pyong Chol talks with Kim Jong Un during an inspection of the Unmanned Aerial Technology Complex during 25-26 March 2025. Also in attendance (L-R) Academy of Defense Science (SANS) President Kim Yong Hwan, WPK Secretary of Military Affairs Pak Jong Chon and WPK Secretary of Defense Industry Jo Chun Ryong (Photo: KCNA)
Ri’s position as WPK Central Military Commission [CMC] Vice Chairman is also not known and cannot be conclusively determined at the present time. If Ri has vacated his CMC Vice Chair slot then that leaves Pak Jong Chon as the sole CMC Vice Chair. This would indicate generational change at the top of the CMC. If we engage a bit of impact analysis (as the CMC supervises defense acquisitions), there is probably no effect on the DPRK’s current defense industry planning and system test schedules.
Ri Pyong Chol joins at least three other general advisers in the regime—Kim Yong Chol in the Central Committee, VMAR Hwang Pyong So (Hwang Pyo’ng so’) at the Ministry of National Defense and Kim Kye Gwan (Kim Kye-kwan) at the Foreign Ministry.
Of these three, Kim Yong Chol remains a more active member of the central leadership with his Political Bureau status and his SPA positions. On the other hand, the General Advisor position indicates that Ri Pyong Chol is semi-retired from the daily grind of Pyongyang’s strategic and decisionmaking culture. Like the other general advisers, Ri retains his clearances and protocols, is on the distro list for briefings and documents, and has access to information commensurate to other senior DPRK officials.
The general advisor position is something we used to encounter in the obituaries of top cadres. KJU appears to be expanding the role and responsibilities of this position and is all but certain to continue to formalize them and add to their ranks.
