North Korea replaces air force chief

Seoul, Dec 8 (IANS/EFE) North Korea has appointed a new air force chief in another replacement made by supreme leader Kim Jong-un in the Korean People's Army, the state-run news agency KCNA reported Monday.

The KCNA identified Lt. Gen. Choe Yong-ho as commander of the air and anti-air forces in an article about Kim Jong-un's visit to a military airbase.

The state news agency also mentioned the previous air force chief, Col. Gen. Ri Pyong-chol, and called him a "responsible worker" for the Workers' Party of Korea.

Although the date of the appointment was not announced, it presumably happened last week as the Communist regime had spoken of Ri as air force chief until late last month.

Since taking power in 2011, Kim Jong-un has been making changes in the armed forces of the country which could be considered as an attempt to take total control of the People's Army by appointing his confidants at high posts.

The North Korean army is one of the largest armed forces in the world with over 1.1 million soldiers, or more than 4 percent of the country's total population of 25 million.

--IANS/EFE

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