PYONG YANG, North Korea: North Korea has appointed No Kwang Chol as its new defense minister, replacing Kang Sun Nam, as announced by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). No Kwang Chol, a familiar figure in the country’s leadership, had previously been involved in high-profile diplomatic talks with former US President Trump in 2018 and 2019.
The appointment was confirmed during a key parliamentary meeting where several constitutional changes were approved. Notably, North Korea did not scrap the 1991 inter-Korean agreement as many had anticipated, a move that would have solidified the South as an official enemy state. This omission has raised questions about Pyongyang’s strategic timing, particularly as the U.S. election draws near.
Some experts suggest that North Korea may be waiting for the outcome of the election before adjusting its policies toward South Korea and Washington. Meanwhile, South Korea’s defense minister claimed that North Korean soldiers are possibly fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, adding to regional and international concerns about North Korea’s expanding military engagements.
These developments mark a potentially pivotal moment in North Korea’s military and diplomatic strategies.
