North Korea has named Hwang Pyong-so as the de facto No. 2 man in charge and replacement for leader Kim Jong-un’s executed uncle, Jang Song-thaek who was purged last December.
KCNA, North Korea’s state-run media, reported that Hwang is the newly appointed head of the army’s political department and will serve as the second-in-command in North Korea after Kim.
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It was previously believed that Choe Ryong-hae, not Hwang, would assume the role of the communist regime’s unofficial No. 2 after he became the vice chairman of the National Defense Commission following the execution of Jang, who was once a political mentor of Kim Jong-un.
However, Choe disappeared from public sight in recent months, which prompted rumors that he has lost his trust of the leader. But KCNA reported he is suffering from serious health problems.
Just days before the newly announced appointment, Hwang was promoted to the rank of vice marshal, a rank shared with Choe and four others.
Hwang’s appointment is the latest in an ongoing leadership reshuffling in North Korea. In February, North Korea promoted a number of key military officials, including the chief of its rocket unit, a department that oversees and operates the country’s missile program.
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