DPRK army chief relieved of all posts

PYONGYANG - Army chief Ri Yong-ho of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has been relieved of all posts due to his illness, the official KCNA new agency said Monday.

DPRK leader Kim Jong-Un (R) exchanges smiles with Ri Yong-ho during a military parade to mark the birth anniversary of the late leader Kim Jong-Il in Pyongyang in this February 16, 2012 file photo.[Photo/ REUTERS/Kyodo/File]

The announcement came Sunday at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), the KCNA said.

The meeting decided to relieve Ri of all his posts including member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau, member of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK for his illness, the KCNA said.

Present at the meeting were "members of the Presidium of the Political Bureau and members and alternate members of the Political Bureau of the WPK Central Committee," the KCNA added.

Ri Yong-ho addresses an anti-South Korea rally in Pyongyang in this March 4, 2012 file still image taken from video broadcast by state TV. [Photo/Agencies]