Ri Yong-ho’s removal from office has taken many by surprise. There is widespread skepticism and few believe the regime’s explanation of “illness”.
North Korean military chief (second in command after Kim Jong-un) Ri Yong-ho has been removed from all official posts due to ‘illness’, according to state media. The statement posted on North Korea’s state news agency was short, giving no details of his condition nor did it indicate his successor as head of the army.
The move is being scrutinised for clues about Kim Jong-un’s leadership style with speculation as to its purpose. Some analysts view the dismissal as a possible political purge to solidify Kim Jong-un’s grip on the military, or as a possible rift among the senior figures surrounding the young leader.
