Kim Jong Gwan confirmed as North Korea’s new defense minister.

Axar.az reports that promotion notable given Kim's background in state construction works, analyst says

North Korea recently appointed Kim Jong Gwan as its new defense minister, party daily the Rodong Sinmun revealed on Wednesday, amid an ongoing broader personnel reshuffle of some of the country’s top military and diplomatic positions.

Kim Jong Gwan previously served as vice minister of the People’s Armed Forces and an Army lieutenant general: a two-star military rank in North Korea.

News of his promotion came in a report on a Tuesday meeting of officials in the field of forest restoration and land and environment protection, in which he was referred to as “Army General Kim Jong Gwan, minister of the People’s Armed Forces.”