Ri Pyong-chol
Ri Pyong-chol is a North Korean former general and close advisor of Kim Jong-un. He is also a relative of Kim's wife, Ri Sol-ju. He currently serves as a director of a department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, First Deputy Director of the Organization and Guidance Department, and member of the National Defense Commission.
General Ri's military and senior Party experience make him an important advisor to Kim Jong-un, especially during crisis. He is an alternate member of the WPK Political Bureau, and a deputy to the Supreme People's Assembly. Ri served in the Korean People's Army Air Force until 2014 at which time he became a senior party official.
In December 2017, the U.S. Treasury department issued sanctions against him, blocking him from "any property or interests in property within U.S. jurisdiction, and prohibits from transactions with American citizens"
In late 2019, Ri became a director of a department of the Central Committee of the party, possibly of the Munitions Industry Department, where he was previously the senior deputy director.
On 23 May 2020, Ri became a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea.
