Ri Pyong-chol (, born 1948) is a North Korean

marshal Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used for elevated o ...

and formerly a top advisor of supreme leader

Kim Jong-un Kim Jong-un (; , ; born 8 January 1982) is a North Korean politician who has been Supreme Leader of North Korea since 2011 and the leader of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) since 2012. He is a son of Kim Jong-il, who was North Korea's sec ...

, who served as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission and a member of the

Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea The Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Workers' Party of Korea, or simply the Presidium, and formerly known as the Standing Committee (1946–61), is a committee consisting of the top leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea. Historic ...

. He is a relative of Kim's wife,

Ri Sol-ju Ri Sol-ju (; born 1985–1989) is the current First Lady of North Korea as the wife of Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un. Little is known about her from official North Korean sources, but outside sources have speculated more about her background. ...

. He currently also serves as a director of a department of the

Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea ( ko, 조선로동당 중앙위원회) is the highest party body between national meetings of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), the ruling party of North Korea. According to WPK rules, the ...

(WPK) and First Deputy Director of the WPK

Organization and Guidance Department The Organization and Guidance Department (OGD) is a department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), the ruling party of North Korea. Its central responsibility is to implement the directives and teachings of the ''Suryeo ...

(OGD). General Ri's military and senior Party experience make him an important advisor to Kim Jong-un, especially during crisis. He is an alternate member of the WPK Political Bureau, and a deputy to the

Supreme People's Assembly The Supreme People's Assembly (SPA; ) is the unicameral legislature of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly known as North Korea. It consists of one deputy from each of the DPRK's 687 constituencies, elected to five-year ...

. Ri served in the

Korean People's Army Air Force The Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force (KPAAF; ; Hanja: 朝鮮人民軍航空 및 反航空軍 ) is the unified military aviation force of North Korea. It is the second largest branch of the Korean People's Army comprising an estimated ...

until 2014 at which time he became a senior party official. In December 2017, the U.S. Treasury department issued sanctions against him, blocking him from "any property or interests in property within U.S. jurisdiction, and prohibits imfrom transactions with American citizens". In late 2019, Ri became a director of a department of the Central Committee of the party, possibly of the Munitions Industry Department, where he was previously the senior deputy director. On 23 May 2020, Ri became a vice chairman of the

Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea The Central Military Commission of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (CMC) () is an organ of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) which is responsible for coordinating the Party organizations within the ...

. On 13 August he also became a member of the

. On 5 October, he was promoted to Marshal of the Korean People's Army. Following an unspecified "serious incident" in June 2021, Ri was stripped of his military title and demoted to a junior position in the party. He was again identified as a Politburo Presidium member and secretary of the Central Committee at the celebrations for the 90th anniversary of the

Korean People's Army The Korean People's Army (KPA; ) is the military force of North Korea and the armed wing of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). Under the ''Songun'' policy, it is the central institution of North Korean society. Currently, WPK General Sec ...

on 25 April 2022.

References

, - , - , - , - Living people Date of birth missing (living people) Place of birth missing (living people) 1948 births North Korean politicians Members of the Presidium of the Workers' Party of Korea Members of the 7th Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea Members of the 7th Presidium of the Workers' Party of Korea Members of the 8th Presidium of the Workers' Party of Korea Members of the 6th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea Vice Chairmen of the Workers' Party of Korea and its predecessors {{NorthKorea-mil-bio-stub