Kim Jong Un`s former aide makes a surprise comeback

Since North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un recently re-emerged in the nation`s media after 40-day disappearance, there are signs of change in the rankings of the North’s power elite. Choe Ryong Hae, a secretary of the North Korean Workers’ Party who was rumored to have been demoted after resigning as the head of the general politburo in May this year, has emerged anew as a closest aide to Kim.

The North’s Rodong Sinmun introduced Choe before others who accompanied Kim Jong Un, as it reported on Friday. “The North Korean leader guided a joint maneuvering drill between Allied Unit 526 and Allied Unit 478 of the People’s Army,” the state newspaper said. “ Our Dear Leader was accompanied by Choe Ryong Hae and Oh Il Jong, department heads of the Workers’ Party, and received by Hwang Pyong So, head of the military’s general politburo, Hyon Yong Chol, minister of the People’s Armed Force, and Lee Yong Gil, chief of the General Staff.” Previously the North introduced Hwang before Choe.

After resigning as head of the party’s general politburo, Choe did not accompany the North Korean leader in military-related activities. “The fact Choe has accompanied Kim (six times) even to a military drill proves that Kim has solid trust in him after such situation," said Jeong Seong-jang, a senior researcher of South Korea’s Sejong Institute. Since Kim’s re-emergence, Hwang has accompanied Kim five times.

Oh Il Jong is also drawing attention. Previously, Oh almost never appeared in North Korean media as a member of Kim’s delegation, but since Kim’s reappearance, he has accompanied the young leader in all military inspection visits (two times). Chances are high that Oh has been named the head of the party’s military department, according to experts in the South. Both Choe and Oh are sons of the Palchisan generation (Choe Hyon and Oh Jin Woo, former ministers of the People’s Armed Force) or comrades of North Korea’s founder Kim Il Sung.

The fact the Rodong Sinmun introduced Hyon Yong Chol before Lee Yong Gil is also notable. Based on the previous rankings, chief of the General Staff ranks before the minister of People’s Armed Force. This illustrates that Kim Jong Un has strong confidence in Hyon.

Researcher Jeong said, “Choe and Hyon are Kim Jong Un’s key aides who were promoted to marshals, when Kim was given the marshal title in September 2010. At a time when Kim Jong Un has yet to fully recover from a leg surgery, Kim is increasingly relying on the two men.”