North Korea reshuffles military leaders

NORTH Korea has promoted a little-known general to an important position in its million-man military.
The announcement on Tuesday of Hyon Yong Chol's promotion follows Monday's announcement that Ri Yong Ho had been axed from important military and political roles.
Ri, who was the second most powerful military figure after Kim Jong Un, and was at the young ruler's side throughout his transition to leadership and after his father's death.
Ri appeared healthy at a recent public appearance and analysts were sceptical about the official explanation that his abrupt departure was for health reasons.

"There's a very high probability that it wasn't health issues, but that he was purged," said Daniel Pinkston, a North Korea analyst at the International Crisis Group.
Ri's departure comes as Kim Jong Un is making his mark in other ways. Last weekend, state TV showed him watching a concert and visiting a kindergarten in the company of a woman who carried herself much like a first lady. Her identity has not been revealed, but making her presence public was a notable change from Kim Jong Il's era, when his companions were kept out of official media.
The dismissal of the top army official is a significant move in North Korea.
Kim Jong Un has upheld his father's "songun" military-first policy but in April he also began promoting younger officials to key military and party posts.
North Korea's political and military reshuffles are mysterious, with officials sometimes dropping out of sight without explanation or their departures blamed on illness.
Bruce Klingner, a North Korea analyst at The Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington, said the shake-up was cause for concern, whether Kim Jong Un is solidifying his power or dealing with a direct challenge to his leadership.
"North Korean leadership instability is worrisome to the United States and its allies since it increases the potential for volatility, additional provocative acts, or implosion of a regime possessing nuclear weapons," Klingner said.
"Whether because of a physical malady or political sin, Ri Yong Ho is out, and Pyongyang is letting the world know to not expect to hear about him anymore," said John Delury, an assistant professor at Yonsei University's Graduate School of International Studies in South Korea.
Ri's departure could mean he lost a power struggle with rising star Choe Ryong Hae, the military's top political officer tasked with supervising the army, said Koh Yu-hwan, a professor at Seoul's Dongguk University.
Choe was promoted to several top posts and was one of three new vice marshals North Korea announced earlier this year.
"Perhaps (Ri) was always meant to be a transitional regent figure, and his function is played," Delury said.
Little is known about Hyon, a career officer. According to state media, Hyon was named a member of the central committee of the Workers' Party, a top decision-making body, in September 2010. In another sign of his rise, he served on the funeral committee for Kim Jong Il in December.