Changes to KPA Corps Commanders (corrected and revised 3 November 2025)

revised and corrected to reflect no change in XI Corps Command (SOF) and deleted  redundant photo to show KPA Strategic Force commander Kim Jong Gil

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

425th Mechanized Division

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 (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.

Reconnaissance General Bureau

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.

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

KPA Strategic Forces

II Army Corps

IV Army Corps

V Army Corps

Pyongyang Defense Command (91st Corps)

III Army Corps

Pyongyang AAA Command

VII Army Corps

VIII Army Corps

X Corps

XII Corps

Tank and Armored Division

105th Tank Division

108th Mechanized Division

815th Mechanized Division

806th Mechanized Division