The North Korean regime has promoted yet another prominent official of the party and military, Yun Tong Hyon.
Yun, a lieutenant general (jungjang) in the Korean People’s Army since February, was promoted to the rank of colonel general (sangjang) no later than May 25, based on the three stars he’s been seen wearing in KCNA photos since that time.
Yun has been a significant official for the past few years, though his trajectory has not always been upward. He previously held the rank of colonel general in 2011 and may have briefly achieved the rank of full general in early 2013, but was demoted to major general (sojang) sometime in 2013 for an unknown reason.
In February this year, Yun was promoted to lieutenant general when the KCNA formally announced the promotion of a large number of officers. Though not yet mentioned in writing, he appears to have regained the rank of colonel general this month. He was seen wearing the rank in public appearances reported by state media on May 25, 26 and 27.
CAREER BACKGROUND
Yun currently serves in two important positions in the regime. He is concurrently one of four vice ministers of the People’s Armed Forces – along with Kang Phyo Yong, Kim Su Gil and Pyon In Son – and a deputy director in the party’s Organization & Guidance Department, which is believed to have a great a deal of influence and control over the rest of the party and government. He’s also been a full member of the Worker’s Party of Korea Central Committee since September 2010.
Though a party official and member of the OGD, Yun’s area of concern appears to be entirely military. Over half of his public appearances are of a directly military nature and even many of the economic events at which he has appeared were at facilities connected to the defense industry. He also led the DPRK delegation in military-to-military talks with a Cuban delegation in September 2012.
APPEARANCES & RANKING
Yun’s public visibility has been almost exclusive to the era of the leadership transition and the Kim Jong Un-associated new generation presiding over the country, and so appears to be a member of this group himself. His earliest recorded mention in state media, according to KCNA Watch, was his appointment to the WPK Central Committee in 2010 and he only began making official appearances in 2012.
Yun made eight public appearances in 2012, but 25 in 2013. He had seven appearances with Kim by May 27 in 2013, but 10 appearances with Kim in the equivalent period of 2014, as seen in the NK Leadership Tracker, all indicating an upward trend.
To date, Yun has ranked first in three appearances with the leader. As of last year, he was listed after Ma Won Chun and Hong Yong Chil in order of precedence by state media, but as of this month he’s being mentioned ahead of these men, both of whom are considered very significant figures themselves. Ma was just recently made a lieutenant general and put in charge of the Designing Department of the National Defense Commission.
Main Photo: Yun at field guidance to machine plant, KCNA
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