Seoul: North Korea has replaced its defense minister as part of a reshuffle in its senior military leadership, state media reported Sunday. This change comes as the country intensifies its military modernization efforts and seeks to enforce stricter discipline within its military ranks.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Song-gi, who previously served as the director of the General Political Bureau of the North's Korean People's Army, has been appointed as the new defense minister. He replaces No Kwang-chol, who has been reassigned as the first vice-director of the Munitions Industry Department of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). The reshuffle was decided during the second meeting of the ninth WPK Central Military Commission, which was led by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Veteran military official Pak Jong-chon has also been appointed as vice-chairman of the WPK Central Military Commission. He was re-elected as a member of the party's Central Committee and Politburo, marking his return to a prominent position in North Korea's military leadership. Pak had previously stepped down from various roles, including the Politburo and party secretary posts, in February, leading to speculation about his reduced role due to age.

The vice chairmanship, now held by Pak, is a critical position responsible for overseeing North Korea's military policies, with Kim Jong-un serving as the commission's chair. The meeting discussed structural reorganization plans aimed at improving the country's overall defense affairs, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The newly appointed commanders are expected to fully embrace the party's vision of building a strong army and to implement military policies with dedication and high activity. In a separate report, KCNA highlighted Kim Jong-un's meeting with scientists, researchers, and officials from key defense research institutions. These individuals were awarded state commendations for their roles in developing new combat weapon systems and enhancing their performance.

During the meeting, Kim Jong-un praised these contributors as "the greatest patriots and heroes," acknowledging their achievements in military science and technology as revolutionary. He expressed confidence that the researchers would continue to strengthen North Korea's self-defensive capabilities in a more formidable manner.