Shin Ryong-man, was the head of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea’s special unit, overseeing the country’s finances, but he now appears to have become head of the mysterious Office 39, according to an academic.
Lee Gee-dong, a senior research fellow at the state-run Institute for National Security Strategy, believes Shin is now in charge of Office 39, with is known as the leader’s “personal safe” as it is responsible for raising and managing secret funds and procuring luxury goods.
Shin, who had served as vice chief of Office 39, is presumed to have replaced his predecessor Jon Il-chun, the head of Office 39, Mr Lee said.
Mr Lee said: “It seems that Jon’s activity might be restricted as he is blacklisted.”
Jon’s name appears on a list issued by the European Union of people that forbidden to work with any Brussels country.
Mr Lee also said that Ri Man-gon, a key party official overseeing missile development, is projected to have been sacked from his post.
Ri, director at the party’s munitions industry department, was not included on a list of key 25 officials who sat on elevated stages along with leader Kim Jong-un at a party event on Sunday.
Ri is a key official in charge of North Korea’s development of its nuclear and missile programmes including the recent launches of Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
He was blacklisted by the United Nations and the US over his role in missile development.
Mr Lee said that the munitions director usually doubles as a party secretary in charge of Jagang Province bordering China.
Ju Young-sik, a member of the WPK’s central committee, is now handling provincial affairs.
North Korea conducted the reshuffle of party personnel at the WPK’s plenary meeting on Saturday.
The North’s state media said that Ju was among those who were named directors of party departments, without elaborating.
Meanwhile North Korea’s foreign minister has accused President Donald Trump of lighting “the wick of war”.
Ri Yong Ho, Pyongyang’s foreign minister, hit out at the US President and said the tensions will not be settled with words.
He said: “With his bellicose and insane statement at the United Nations, Trump, you can say, has lit the wick of a war against us.
“We need to settle the final score, only with a hail of fire, not words.”