North Korea has appointed a new minister of the People’s Armed Forces, Hyon Yong Chol, replacing Jang Jong Nam sometime earlier this month. Hyon was referred to as minister of the People’s Armed Forces – North Korea’s equivalent of a defense minister – in a KCTV broadcast about the construction of the Satellite (Wisong) Scientists’ Street in Pyongyang on June 25. His predecessor, Jang Jong Nam, was last referred to by this title on June 4, so the change has taken place within the past three weeks.

Hyon previously served as chief of the Korean People’s Army (KPA)