Head of N.K. missile development agency promoted after ICBM test

All Headlines 08:53 July 11, 2017

SEOUL, July 11 (Yonhap) -- The head of North Korea's missile development agency has been promoted to a colonel general after the country's first test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), an analysis of media reports showed Tuesday.

Jang Chang-ha, president of the Academy of National Defense Science, was seen sitting next to leader Kim Jong-un at a performance with his military rank being raised by one notch from lieutenant general, according to Yonhap News Agency's analysis on photos carried by state media.

The promotion is seen as a reward for the agency's development of an ICBM, called the Hwasong-14, which North Korea test-fired last Tuesday, claiming that it can hit targets anywhere in the world.

The agency is a key institute in charge of developing North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles. It has been blacklisted by the United Nations over its role in North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

This photo carried by North Korea's state media on July 10, 2017, shows Jang Chang-ha (circled), president of the Academy of National Defense Science with a military rank of colonel general. His promotion from the post of lieutenant general came after North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile on July 4, 2017. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)

Jang's military rank was lieutenant general until he visited a memorial hall to pay tribute to late state founder Kim Il-sung on Saturday on the 23rd anniversary of his death. Given that the performance was held Sunday, he is presumed to have been promoted in between.

Jang was granted the title of the country's "hero," together with Choe Chun-sik, the then-head of the agency, in recognition of his role in launching a long-range rocket in December 2012.

Since late 2014, Jang has assumed the head of the agency, focusing on developing new ballistic missiles.

He showed up at the site of major missile tests, including an intermediate-range Hwasong-12 ballistic missile and medium-range Pukguksong-2 ballistic missile.

Meanwhile, three other key officials involved in ICBM development saw their military ranks retained, the photos showed.

Ri Pyong-chol, a senior deputy director of the ruling party's Machine-Building Industry Department, is a general. Kim Jong-sik, an official at the Workers' Party of Korea, and Jon Il-ho are holding the military title of lieutenant general.

sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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