TOKYO - North Korea has replaced the country's defense minister at a meeting guided by leader Kim Jong Un, state-run media reported Sunday.
Kim Song Gi, director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army, was appointed as minister of National Defense of the nation, replacing No Kwang Chol, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.
No has been appointed as first vice director of the Munitions Industry Department of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee.
At Saturday's meeting, plans for organizational restructuring were discussed, suggesting the defense minister's replacement was part of the overhaul. KCNA did not elaborate on whether Kim Jong Un made remarks on North Korea's nuclear or missile programs.
South Korean media outlets reported that No had been dismissed, saying he was likely held accountable for a recently uncovered military corruption scandal, although the North has not mentioned the circumstances surrounding his replacement.
In July, KCNA said Kim Jong Un strongly condemned a high-profile corruption case involving a former vice director of the military's General Political Bureau, calling for stricter discipline.
On Saturday, meanwhile, Kim Jong Un presented medals and decorations to scientists in Pyongyang, praising their contribution to strengthening the country's military capabilities, the news agency reported.
He appreciated "the recent exclusive innovative military sci-tech achievements" in the defense science research field as a "great revolution" for "radically improving the modernity" of the North Korean army's combat weapon systems, KCNA said.
The agency did not disclose details of the technologies developed by the scientists.
