The personnel changes announced with the end of the Seventh Congress of the Worker’s Party of Korea (WPK) may indicate more party control over North Korean military, experts said.

“It appears North Korea has decided to downsize and perhaps streamline the Party Central Military Commission (CMC). Some of the chiefs of specialized commands – such as Kim Rak Gyom of the KPA Strategic Force and Jo Kyong Chol of Military Security Command – are no longer on the CMC,” NK News director of intelligence John Grisafi said.

“Meanwhile, they have placed a civilian, DPRK Premier Pak Pong Ju, onto the CMC.