North Korea has appointed a new commander of the XI Corps of the Korean People’s Army – the KPA’s primary special operations command. KPA Lieutenant General Kim Yong Bok replaced previous commander Colonel General Choe Kyong Song some time before December 30.

Pyongyang’s state media first revealed Kim’ rank and title in a report on a meeting of KPA service personnel in the plaza outside Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang on Friday, where they renewed their pledges of loyalty to the North Korean leadership.