Changes to KPA Corps Commanders

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The 10 October 2025 military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the party foundation showed at least six (6) changes to the command of Korean People’s Army (KPA) service and corps units. Most of these changes were made during the WPK Central Military Commission (CMC) meeting in May, but with the exception of the new KPA Navy Commander went unpublicized until the parade.

For some Pyongyang watchers the most notable change might be the new Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB) chief, Maj. Gen. Ri Kyong Chol (Ri Kyo’ng-ch’o’l).

I Army Corps

Lt. Gen. An Yong Hwan

Lt. Gen. An Yong Hwan (An Yo’ng-hwan) replaced Kim Song Chol (Kim So’ng-ch’o’l) as commander of the I Corps. Lt. Gen. An previously served as commander of IX Corps.

IX Army Corps

Lt. Gen. Jang Ju Nam

Lt. Gen. Jang Ju Nam (Chang Chu-nam) replaced Lt. Gen. An Yong Hwan as commander of the IX Corps.

425th Mechanized Division

Maj. Gen. Kim Hyon Jin

Maj. Gen. Kim Hyon Jin (Kim Hyon-chin) replaced Lt. Gen. Kim Jong Chol (Kim Cho’ng-ch’o’l) as commander of the 425th Mechanized Division.

KPA Navy

Admiral Pak Kwang Sop

Admiral Pak Kwang Sop (Pak Kwang-sop) replaced Admiral Kim Myong Sik (Kim Myo’ng-sik). Admiral Pak’s appointment was observed in May after the CMC meeting and previously publicized in June.

KPA Special Operations Forces (a/k/a XI Corps)

Maj. Gen. Jon Yong Chan

Maj. Gen. Jon Yong Chan (Chon Yo’ng-chan) replaced Lt. Gen. Ri Bong Chun (Ri Bong-chun) as commander of KPA Special Operations Forces.

Reconnaissance General Bureau

Maj. Gen. Ri Kyong Chol

Maj. Gen. Ri Kyong Chol (Ri Kyo’ng-ch’o’l) replaced Col. Gen. Ri Chang Ho (Ri Chang-ho) as RGB Director. Col. Gen. Ri was appointed commander of the KPA Overseas Mission Group.

Col. Gen. Ri Chang Ho

Other selected corps and service branch commanders

Despite a major personnel shuffle affecting the KPA after the CMC meeting in May, corps and service branch commanders remain in their positions since the last military parade in July 2023.

KPA Air and anti-Air Force

Gen. Kim Kwang Hyok