North Korea confirms new military chief of staff

[left-of-center2012]

North Korea's state media confirmed on Friday that Ri Yong Gil has become the new chief of the military's general staff, the latest in leader Kim Jong Un's leadership change.

As Kim shifts the focus to the economy and pursues diplomacy with the United States, he has been replacing older, more conservative officers who were wedded to the country's nuclear doctrine with loyalists who would follow any changes he may make, U.S. officials and analysts say.

All of the newly promoted officials are younger than their predecessors, even though they are all in their 60s. Ri is 63 years old, 21 years younger than his predecessor, Ri Myong Su.

With Pyongyang and Washington in nuclear talks, U.S. officials believe there was some dissent in the North Korean military about the negotiations, a complete reversal of Kim's years-long pursuit of nuclear weapons and warlike rhetoric. It was not clear if the sacked officers were responsible.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/north-korea-confirms-new-military-chief-of-staff/ar-BBL73xt

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. What happened to the old one; lead poisoning? NT

[braddy]

2. The previous one was seen as resistant to the new negotiations with the U.S.

""As Kim shifts the focus to the economy and pursues diplomacy with the United States, he has been replacing older, more conservative officers who were wedded to the country's nuclear doctrine with loyalists who would follow any changes he may make, U.S. officials and analysts say.""