Changes to KPA Corps Commanders (corrected and revised 3 November 2025)

revised and corrected to reflect no change in XI Corps Command (SOF) and deleted redundant photo to show KPA Strategic Force commander Kim Jong Gil

The 10 October 2025 military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the party foundation showed at least six (6) changes to the command of Korean People’s Army (KPA) service and corps units. Most of these changes were made during the WPK Central Military Commission (CMC) meeting in May, but with the exception of the new KPA Navy Commander went unpublicized until the parade.

For some Pyongyang watchers the most notable change might be the new Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB) chief, Maj. Gen. Ri Kyong Chol (Ri Kyo’ng-ch’o’l).

I Army Corps

Lt. Gen. An Yong Hwan

Lt. Gen. An Yong Hwan (An Yo’ng-hwan) replaced Kim Song Chol (Kim So’ng-ch’o’l) as commander of the I Corps. Lt. Gen. An previously served as commander of IX Corps.

IX Army Corps

Lt. Gen. Jang Ju Nam

Lt. Gen. Jang Ju Nam (Chang Chu-nam) replaced Lt. Gen. An Yong Hwan as commander of the IX Corps.

425th Mechanized Division

Maj. Gen. Kim Hyon Jin

Maj. Gen. Kim Hyon Jin (Kim Hyon-chin) replaced Lt. Gen. Kim Jong Chol (Kim Cho’ng-ch’o’l) as commander of the 425th Mechanized Division.

KPA Navy

Admiral Pak Kwang Sop

Admiral Pak Kwang Sop (Pak Kwang-sop) replaced Admiral Kim Myong Sik (Kim Myo’ng-sik). Admiral Pak’s appointment was observed in May after the CMC meeting and previously publicized in June.

Reconnaissance General Bureau

Maj. Gen. Ri Kyong Chol

Maj. Gen. Ri Kyong Chol (Ri Kyo’ng-ch’o’l) replaced Col. Gen. Ri Chang Ho (Ri Chang-ho) as RGB Director. Col. Gen. Ri was appointed commander of the KPA Overseas Mission Group.

Col. Gen. Ri Chang Ho

Other selected corps and service branch commanders

Despite a major personnel shuffle affecting the KPA after the CMC meeting in May, corps and service branch commanders remain in their positions since the last military parade in July 2023.

KPA Air and anti-Air Force

Gen. Kim Kwang Hyok

KPA Strategic Forces

Col. Gen. Kim Jong Gil

II Army Corps

Lt. Gen. Ryo Chol Ung

IV Army Corps

Col. Gen. Pak Kwang Ju

V Army Corps

Col. Gen. Choe Tu Yong

Pyongyang Defense Command (91st Corps)

Lt. Gen. Choe Kang Il

III Army Corps

Lt. Gen. Ri Kyong Chol

Pyongyang AAA Command

Lt. Gen. Ryang Gil Song

VII Army Corps

Lt. Gen. Choe Chun Gil

VIII Army Corps

Lt. Gen. Kim Hak Chol

X Corps

Lt. Gen. Ko Myong Su

XII Corps

Lt. Gen. Ko In Chol

Tank and Armored Division

Lt. Gen. Ki Yong Chun

105th Tank Division

Lt. Gen. O Jong Su

108th Mechanized Division

Lt. Gen. Kim Chol Hi

815th Mechanized Division

Lt. Gen. Hong Chol Ung

806th Mechanized Division

Lt. Gen. Kim Yong Chol

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Information

This article was written on 15 Oct 2025, and is filled under 108th Mechanized Division, 2007-2010 kpa management, 2012 KPA promotions, 2013 KPA Promotions, 2015 KPA Promotions, 2016 KPA Promotions, 425th Mechanized Division, 815th Mechanized Division, armored division, Artillery Corps, Central Committee, Central Military Committee, CG Pak Kwang Ju, Col. Gen. Choe Tu Yong, Col. Gen. Kim Song Chol, Col. Gen. Pak Jong Chon, Col. Gen. Pak Su Il (GSD/MPS), colonel general, corps command, corps commanders, DPRK Intelligence Community, DPRK military engagement, east sea command, Gen Pang Tu Sop, Gen. Ri Yong Gil, gsd, gsob, Guard Command, ideological slogans, III Army Corps, IX Army Corps, Ju Chol Gyu (VP/Agriculture Commission), Kim Hak Chol (VIII Corps), Kim Jong Gil (SFC CO), Kim Jong-un, Kim Kwang Hyok (KPAF), KJU Personal Secretariat, Ko In Chol (XII Corps), Korean People's Air Force, Korean People's Air Force [KPAF], Korean People's Army Air Force, Korean People's Army (KPA), KPA Cadres Bureau, KPA construction battalions, KPA construction brigades, KPA East Command Zone, KPA General Logistics Department, KPA General Political Bureau, KPA General Political Department, KPA General Staff, KPA I Army Corps, KPA II Army Corps, KPA infantry corps, KPA Large Combined Unit #324, KPA Large Combined Units, KPA Organization Department, KPA Southwestern Front Command, KPA Strategic Rocket Force Command, KPA supernumerary organizations, KPA Supreme Command, KPA V Army Corps, KPA VII Army Corps, KPA West Sea Command, Lt. Gen. An Yong Hwan, Lt. Gen. Choe Kang Il (PDC), Lt. Gen. Jon Yong Chan, Lt. Gen. Ju Song Nam (815th Mechanized Division GPD), Lt. Gen. Ju Tong Chol, Lt. Gen. Ko Myong Su (815th Mechanized Division), Lt. Gen. Ra Chol Jin (GC), Lt. Gen. Ri Kyong Chol (III Corps), Lt. Gen. Ri Kyong Chol (RGB), LTG Kim Yong Bok, LTGEN Ri Chang Ho (RGB), Maj. Gen. Choe In Chol, Maj. Gen. Kim Chol Hi, Mechanized Command, Military Affairs, military security command [msc], Ministry of the People's Armed Forces (MPAF), Navy Command, Office of Military Officers, Political Bureau, Pyongyang Defense Command, Reconnaissance Bureau, Ri Kyong Chol (III Corps), Ryo Chol Ung (II Corps), Secretariat, State Affairs Commission, Storm Corps, Tank Command, VIII Army Corps, X Corps, XI Army Corps (SOF), XII Army Corps, XII Corps.

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