N. Korea army chief relieved of all postsJuly 16, 2012 - 11:26 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - North Korea's army chief has been relieved of all his posts due to illness, state media said on Monday, July 16, in a surprise development that removes one of new leader Kim Jong-Un's inner circle, according to AFP. Ri Yong-Ho is regarded as one of the key figures who helped support the young, untested leader in the transition following the death in December of his father Kim Jong-Il, the longtime dictator of the reclusive state. The departure and the quick announcement by the regime were "very unusual", said a spokesman of Seoul's unification ministry handling cross-border affairs, while observers say Ri may have fallen out of favor with Jong-Un. The 69-year-old became head of the country's 1.2 million-member military – one of the world's largest – in 2009 and had been seen often accompanying Jong-Un on visits to military bases in recent months. The North's official KCNA news agency said a meeting of top officials from the ruling party on Sunday took the decision to relieve him of his posts "for his illness". He was removed from the "presidium of the politburo", the country's most powerful body with only a handful of members, and the "vice-chairman of the central military commission" of the ruling Workers' Party, it said. The spokesman for Seoul's unification ministry added to reporters "We are watching the situation with interest," without elaborating further. The general was one of seven top party and military cadres who accompanied Jong-Un when he walked alongside the hearse carrying the body of Jong-Il during his funeral. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |