All of Pyongyang’s approved candidates were unanimously elected to the Supreme People’s Assembly this week, including a senior military official whose sparse appearances of late had sparked rumors of a purge.

Vice Marshall Choe Ryong Hae, who last year had topped all other North Korean officials in terms of public appearances with Kim Jong Un, was re-elected to the Assembly earlier this week. Choe, director of the Korean People’s Army’s general political bureau, had taken part in fewer public appearances in the period between the start of 2014 and the elections.

As this period came just after the purge and