Ri Pyong-chol

This article is about a North Korean general. For the South Korean businessman, see Lee Byung-chul.

In this Korean name, the family name is Ri.

Ri Pyong-chol (Korean: 리병철, born 1948)^[1] is a North Korean military official and formerly a top advisor of supreme leader Kim Jong Un, who serves as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission and a member of the Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea. He is a relative of Kim's wife, Ri Sol-ju. He currently also serves as a director of a department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and First Deputy Director of the WPK Organization and Guidance Department (OGD).^[3][4] General Ri's military and senior Party experience make him an important advisor to Kim Jong Un, especially during crisis.^[4] He is an alternate member of the WPK Political Bureau, and a deputy to the Supreme People's Assembly.^[5] Ri served in the Korean People's Army Air Force until 2014 at which time he became a senior party official.^[6]

Marshal Ri Pyong-chol
Commander of the Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force
In office unknown–unknown
Supreme Commander	Kim Jong Un
Chairman	Kim Jong Un
Succeeded by	Kim Kwang-hyok
First Deputy Director of the Organization and Guidance Department
Incumbent
Assumed office unknown
Leader	Kim Jong Un
Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 June 2022
Chairman	Kim Jong Un
Preceded by	Seat created
In office 23 May 2020 – 30 June 2021
Preceded by	Choe Ryong-hae
Personal details
Born	1948 (age 76–77) North Korea
Citizenship	North Korean
Nationality	Korean
Political party	Workers' Party of Korea
Education	Red Flag Mangyongdae Revolutionary School
Military service
Allegiance	North Korea
Branch/service	Korean People's Army
Years of service	1965–present
Rank	Marshal
Korean name
Hangul	리병철
Hanja	李炳鐵; 李炳哲 [1][2]
RR	Ri Byeongcheol
MR	Ri Pyŏngch'ŏl

In December 2017, the U.S. Treasury department issued sanctions against him, blocking him from "any property or interests in property within U.S. jurisdiction, and prohibits [him] from transactions with American citizens".^[7]

In late 2019, Ri became a director of a department of the Central Committee of the party, possibly of the Munitions Industry Department, where he was previously the senior deputy director.^[8]

On 23 May 2020, Ri became a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea.^[9] On 13 August he also became a member of the Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea. On 5 October, he was promoted to Marshal of the Korean People's Army.^[10]

Following an unspecified "serious incident" in June 2021, Ri was stripped of his military title and demoted to a junior position in the party.^[11] He was again identified as a Politburo Presidium member and secretary of the Central Committee at the celebrations for the 90th anniversary of the Korean People's Army on 25 April 2022.

Awards and honors

During the 8 February 2023 parade, Ri was seen wearing all decorations awarded to him.^[12]