Kim was elected to the post first in June 2016, when the commission was created through an amendment to the constitution. Though it has been only three years since the election, his new five-year term should technically start with the beginning of the newly formed parliament.</s>Kim Jong-un acquires a new title, and now becomes 'the supreme representative of all the Korean people' – a newly-created role that observers say makes him more like a modern national leader

SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea has replaced its long-serving head of state with a close aide to leader Kim Jong-un, promoting a man who was placed on a US sanctions list last year for alleged human rights abuses, state media said Friday, April 12.

The move came as part of a top-ranking reshuffle that analysts said further cemented Kim's already unshakeable grip on power.

Kim also acquired a new title, and now becomes "the supreme representative of all the Korean people" – a newly-created role that observers say makes him more like a modern national leader, on a par with other country's presidents and prime ministers.

Kim Yong-nam, the now-91-year-old who held the position of the North's head of state – an almost entirely ceremonial role – for almost 20 years, was replaced by Choe Ryong-hae, the state-run KCNA said.

As the new president of the Supreme People's Assembly, Choe is technically head of state, although real power in North Korea is wielded by Kim and his immediate family.

The reshuffle comes at a time of heightened diplomatic activity that has seen Kim Jong-un hold landmark summits with the leaders of the US, China and South Korea.

Born in 1950, Choe is considered Kim Jong-un's right-hand man – frequently referred to as the regime's "virtual number two official," having been key to the party's hierarchy since the 1980s.

Some reports have even suggested that one of Choe's sons is married to Kim Jong-un's powerful sister, Kim Yo-jong.

Choe is also one of the 3 North Korean officials placed under sanctions by the US last year over human rights abuse allegations.

Analysts said, however, the existing strictures on Choe will have little impact on his future diplomatic endeavors, as long as its nuclear dialogue with the US continues.

"Kim Yong-chol, the North's top nuclear negotiator, also has been sanctioned by Washington since 2010," Ahn Chan-il, the president of the World Institute for North Korea Studies in Seoul, told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"But he visited Washington without a problem earlier this year. Washington will always make exceptions – as long as Pyongyang has something to offer."

Kim's new job adds to a growing list of titles he has accrued since he took power after the 2011 death of his father.

Analysts say it may also indicate a change in the country's constitution that concentrates more authority in the young leader.

"If Pyongyang indeed revised its constitution, then it just means Kim Jong-un now has more power than ever," said analyst Ahn.

"If that's the case, Kim will be the one who will be officially representing Pyongyang both at home and abroad."

Unlike his father, Kim Jong-Il, the young Kim has increasingly greeted foreign heads of state and visiting dignatories, performing the functions of a modern head of state.

Jeong Young-tae, an analyst at the Institute of North Korean Studies in Seoul, says the new title is part of Pyongyang's efforts to "secularize" Kim and his power.

"Kim Jong-un wants to re-brand North Korea as a 'normal' socialist country in the world stage," he told AFP.

"The new title 'representative' is a break from some of his previous titles that are redolent of a religious cult." – Rappler.com</s>In one of the biggest leadership shake-ups in years, North Korea has named a new nominal head of state and a new premier and given leader Kim Jong-un a new title, moves analysts say solidifies Kim's grip on power.

In an expected move, Kim Jong-un was re-elected as chairman of the State Affairs Commission at a session of North Korea's rubber-stamp legislature that took place on Thursday, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

For the first time, however, state media referred to Kim as "supreme representative of all the Korean people." That title was approved by special decree in February, according to the Associated Press, but has not been used publicly until Friday.

It's unclear whether the changes will be codified in the constitution, but analysts said the shake-up shows Kim has fully come into his own, eight years after he inherited rule from his father, Kim Jong Il.

"The transition and power consolidation of the Kim Jong-un regime is complete," said Michael Madden, a leadership researcher with 38 North, a website that monitors North Korea.

"This is probably the largest party-government shake-up in many years," he said.

Since early 2018 Kim has embarked on a push for economic development and international engagement, including historic summits with the leaders of the United States, China and South Korea.

Choe Ryong Hae was named President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea, replacing Kim Yong Nam.

The person holding that position is constitutionally considered North Korea's head of state and usually represents the country at diplomatic events, though experts say real power remains concentrated in Kim Jong-un's hands.

Kim Yong Nam, who was born in 1928, has been one of the longest serving senior officials, having held the position since it was created for him in 1998, Madden said.

His replacement, Choe, was subjected to political "re-education" in the past, but in recent years appeared to be gaining more influence since he was promoted in October 2017 to the party's powerful Central Military Commission, South Korean intelligence officials previously said.

Choe was one of the three officials sanctioned by the United States in December over allegations of rights abuses.

On Thursday US President Donald Trump, who has had two summits with Kim to discuss North Korean denuclearisation and has expressed his willingness for a third, said Washington would leave sanctions in place.

Several officials who have played leading roles in negotiations with the United States, including Choe Son Hui and Kim Yong Chol, were also promoted.

Kim Jae-ryong, a senior party official, was appointed premier of the cabinet, replacing Pak Pong-ju.</s>SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea’s new nominal head of state is a long-time loyalist with deep ties to the ruling Kim family and whose fortunes have closely followed the rise of leader Kim Jong Un, analysts said.

Choe Ryong Hae was named President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of North Korea, state media reported on Friday, replacing Kim Yong Nam who had held the position since it was created in 1998.

In that position, Choe will be the constitutional head of state, and is likely to be the public face of North Korea at many official functions.

With Kim Jong Un personally taking an unprecedented role in international engagement, Choe’s role may evolve. But analysts say Choe now holds a position of rare prominence for anyone outside the Kim family, which has ruled North Korea since it was established in 1948.

Born in 1950, Choe began to forge his relationship with Kim Jong Un after being tasked in 2009 to help him prepare to succeed his father, Kim Jong Il.

Choe’s father had ties to Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Un’s grandfather and the founding leader of North Korea, and Choe himself had a personal relationship with Kim Jong Il for decades.

Choe was one of the most powerful officials in North Korea as head of the Workers’ Party of Korea Organization and Guidance Department (OGD), according to database North Korea Leadership Watch.

He survived years of purges after Kim Jong Un took power, and has weathered a series of ups and downs in his standing.

In late 2015, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service said Choe had been sent to a countryside farm for political reeducation, but in recent years Choe appeared to be gaining more influence since he was promoted in October 2017 to the party’s powerful Central Military Commission.

South Korea’s spy agency said in 2017 it believed he was behind the punishment of General Hwang Pyong So, once one of Kim Jong Un’s most-trusted advisers.

Still, analysts said Choe appears to be more of a smooth “yes man” than a hardened enforcer within the government.

“He is a schmoozer,” said Michael Madden, a North Korea leadership expert at the Stimson Center, a U.S. think tank. “He’s not one of these guys with bloody knuckles, not someone we would associate with being a leg-breaker in the regime. He knows how to do that if he needs to, but he’s more of a schmoozer.”

In December, Choe was one of three North Korean officials sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for “serious human rights abuses and censorship”.

In a statement at the time, the department said as head of the OGD, Choe oversaw censorship and control of North Koreans.

A former South Korean diplomat who met Choe said that even during meetings where he was not the most senior official, Choe seemed “confident, or even arrogant”, often doing most of the talking.

“I had the impression that he had the trust of Kim Jong Un, which would’ve come from his father’s relationship with the Kim family,” the diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.</s>SEOUL
• North Korea's new nominal head of state is a long-time loyalist with deep ties to the ruling Kim family and whose fortunes have closely followed the rise of leader Kim Jong Un, analysts said.

Mr Choe Ryong Hae was named president of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea, state media reported yesterday.

He replaces Mr Kim Yong Nam, who had held the position since it was created in 1998.

Mr Choe will be the constitutional head of state and is likely to be the public face of North Korea at many official functions.

Analysts say Mr Choe now holds a position of rare prominence for anyone outside the Kim family, which has ruled North Korea since it was established in 1948.

Born in 1950, Mr Choe began to forge his relationship with Mr Kim Jong Un after being tasked in 2009 to help him prepare to succeed his father, Mr Kim Jong Il.

Mr Choe's father had ties to Kim Il Sung, Mr Kim Jong Un's grandfather and the founding leader of North Korea, and Mr Choe himself had a personal relationship with Mr Kim Jong Il for decades.

He survived years of purges after Mr Kim Jong Un took power.</s>SEOUL, April 12 (Reuters) - North Korea named a new nominal head of state, state media said on Friday, at a session of its rubber-stamp legislature that took place on Thursday.

Choe Ryong Hae was named President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, replacing Kim Yong Nam. Kim had held the position since 1998.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been elected as chairman of the State Affairs Commission, KCNA said.

North Korea also named a new Premier of its cabinet, Kim Jae Ryong, replacing Pak Pong Ju who had held his current post since 2013. (Reporting by Joyce Lee Editing by James Dalgleish)</s>Kim Jong Un has been re-elected as North Korea's leader in a shakeup of the country's ruling personnel.

 

 Mr Kim was again named chairman of the State Affairs Commission, the nation's most important decision-making body.





 The leader, 35, holds many government, military and ruling party leadership titles, but he technically rules the country in his capacity as commission chairman - a post he was first elected to in 2016.

 

 One of Mr Kim's top lieutenants, Choe Ryong Hae, was appointed president of the assembly's presidium - a council of executive officers - and also elected to the new post of first vice-chairman of the State Affairs Commission.

The presidium president post is North Korea's nominal head of state, although all power is heavily concentrated on Mr Kim, the third-generation member of his family to rule the North since his grandfather founded it in 1948.

 

 Some observers say Mr Choe's appointment to first vice-chairman of the state commission could allow him to oversee diplomacy with the United States as it gives him control over the country's nuclear negotiators.

 

 Mr Choe has been a rising star since Mr Kim came to power in late 2011.

 

 He went to China and Russia as Mr Kim's special envoy, and has assumed a series of high-profile jobs, including the top political officer in the North's 1.2 million-member military.

 

 Mr Choe's election to head the presidium means the departure of 91-year-old Kim Yong Nam, who has served all three generations of the ruling Kim family.

 

 Three of the senior officials involved in nuclear negotiations with the United States have been re-elected or newly-elected to members of Kim Jong Un's state commission.

 

 They include former military intelligence chief Kim Yong Chol, who travelled to Washington to meet Donald Trump twice before the North Korean leader's two summits with the US president in Singapore last year and Vietnam in February.

 

 The leaders looked to thrash out an agreement for Pyongyang to halt its nuclear weapons programme.

 

 The fate of Kim Yong Chol had been the focus of South Korean media speculation since the second Kim-Trump summit in Hanoi ended without any agreement because of disputes over US-led sanctions on the North.</s>SEOUL (Reuters) - In one of the biggest leadership shake-ups in years, North Korea named a new nominal head of state and a new premier, and gave leader Kim Jong Un a new title, state media reported on Friday, moves analysts said solidify Kim’s grip on power.

In an expected move, Kim Jong Un was re-elected as chairman of the State Affairs Commission at a session of North Korea’s rubber-stamp legislature that took place on Thursday, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

For the first time, however, state media referred to Kim as “supreme representative of all the Korean people.” That title was approved by special decree in February, according to the Associated Press, but has not been used publicly until Friday.

It’s unclear whether the changes will be codified in the constitution, but analysts said the shake-up shows Kim has fully come into his own, eight years after he inherited rule from his father, Kim Jong Il.

“The transition and power consolidation of the Kim Jong Un regime is complete,” said Michael Madden, a leadership researcher with 38 North, a website that monitors North Korea.

“This is probably the largest party-government shake-up in many years,” he said.

Since early 2018 Kim has embarked on a push for economic development and international engagement, including historic summits with the leaders of the United States, China and South Korea.

Choe Ryong Hae was named President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of North Korea, replacing Kim Yong Nam.

The person holding that position is constitutionally considered North Korea’s head of state and usually represents the country at diplomatic events, though experts say real power remains concentrated in Kim Jong Un’s hands.

Kim Yong Nam, who was born in 1928, has been one of the longest serving senior officials, having held the position since it was created for him in 1998, Madden said.

His replacement, Choe, was subjected to political “re-education” in the past, but in recent years appeared to be gaining more influence since he was promoted in October 2017 to the party’s powerful Central Military Commission, South Korean intelligence officials previously said.

Choe was one of the three officials sanctioned by the United States in December over allegations of rights abuses.

On Thursday U.S. President Donald Trump, who has had two summits with Kim to discuss North Korean denuclearisation and has expressed his willingness for a third, said Washington would leave sanctions in place.

Several officials who have played leading roles in negotiations with the United States, including Choe Son Hui and Kim Yong Chol, were also promoted.

North Korea also replaced the premier of its cabinet, an official at the centre of efforts to jumpstart the economy.

Leader Kim Jong Un has made economic development the centrepiece of his strategy and told officials this week that building a self-supporting economy would be a blow to the “hostile forces” that have imposed sanctions on the North Korea.

Pak Pong Ju had served his current post as premier since 2013.

According to analysts at NK News, a website that monitors North Korea, Pak helped oversee a process of “radical reform” in the economy that enabled it to survive sanctions.

Among those reforms were loosing control of state-run enterprises, allowing them to operate more freely in the market and to seek private investment, according to a 2017 profile of Pak in NK News.

Some of those reforms earned the ire of Kim Jong Un’s father, Kim Jong Il, who led North Korea at the time. But the younger Kim has more openly embraced many of those market changes, and North Korea has sought to ease sanctions and attract more private investment.

Pak will now serve as a vice chairman of the ruling party, meaning that those economic reforms are still being embraced, said Hong Min, senior researcher of Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul.

“It means Pak Pong Ju-nomics, or Pak Pong Ju-style economic reform is continuing,” he said.

There is little known about Pak’s replacement, Kim Jae Ryong, who has been serving as a party leader in Jagang Province, a mountainous area home to some munitions factories.

The province is known within North Korea, however, for having a spirit of overcoming hardship, which may fit with Kim Jong Un’s message of persevering under sanctions, Hong said.</s>SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea named a new nominal head of state, state media said on Friday, at a session of its rubber-stamp legislature that took place on Thursday.

Choe Ryong Hae was named President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, replacing Kim Yong Nam. Kim had held the position since 1998.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been elected as chairman of the State Affairs Commission, KCNA said.

North Korea also named a new Premier of its cabinet, Kim Jae Ryong, replacing Pak Pong Ju who had held his current post since 2013.

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.

Your guide to the latest election news, analysis, commentary, live updates and schedule for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 on firstpost.com/elections. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram or like our Facebook page for updates from all 543 constituencies for the upcoming general elections.</s>PYONGANG, North Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was elected chairman of the State Affairs Commission, and a new premier was chosen by the government's parliament, the Korean Central News Agency reports.

The agency says the first session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly chose Kim Jong Un for the post because of "his outstanding ideological and theoretical wisdom and experienced and seasoned leadership."

Kim Jong Un was first elected as chairman of State Affairs Commission in 2016 at the 13th Supreme People's Assembly

The agency also reports that Kim Jae Ryong was chosen as premier of the cabinet. He replaces Pak Pong Ju.

The North Korea Watch website says Kim Jae Ryong has been a longtime ruling party leader and has "held guidance officer and political management positions at industrial sites."

Pak Pong Ju had served two separate terms as premier, from 2003 to 2007 and from 2013 to 2019, according to North Korea Watch.
North Korea appoints Choe Ryong-hae as President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, the country's nominal head of state, replacing Kim Yong-nam after 21 years. Kim Jae-ryong becomes premier.