Hwang Pyong So elected as vice chairman of DPRK top military body

PYONGYANG - Hwang Pyong So, a senior official of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), was elected vice chairman of top military body National Defense Commission (NDC), the state media said Thursday.

Hwang was elected in the second meeting of the 13th Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) convened here Thursday, replacing Choe Ryong Hae, who is currently one of the three-member politburo of the Central Committee of the country's ruling Workers' Party of Korea.

Choe has been installed as vice chairman of the NDC and vice chairman of the party's Central Military Commission since April when the first session of the 13th SPA took place.

But in the second meeting held at Mansudae Assembly Hall, Choe was removed from the post of vice chairman of the NDC and "transferred to other post," on which the official KCNA news agency did not specify.

In addition, the assembly elected deputies Hyong Yong Chol and Ri Pyong Chol to take place of another member of the NDC Jang Jong Nam.

The top-level personnel changes are made "at the proposal of Marshal Kim Jong Un," which referred to the country's top leader.