Ri Hong-sop

In this Korean name, the family name is Ri.

Ri Hong-sop (Korean: 리홍섭, born 1940) is a North Korean scientist.^[1]

Ri is a former director of the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center.^[2][3] In 2005 he served on the program committee of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Nuclear Energy and Security (NUSEC) conference in Salzburg, Austria.^[4] According to the United Nations, Ri has played a "key role in the ... [DPRK's] nuclear program”.^[5]

In January 2016 Ri, along with a fellow associate in the nuclear weapons program Hong Sung-mu, was the first in line to receive a medal from Kim Jong Un for success in the January 2016 nuclear test.^[5] The two men are collectively known as North Korea's "nuclear duo".^[6]