At the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Jong-un was elected party general secretary, and among the five standing committee members around him, one person stood out in particular: Cho Yong-won. Who is Zhao Yongyuan?Why did he become the number two person in North Korea?What impact did he have on North Korean politics and diplomacy?This article will look at these issues from three aspects.
Zhao Yongyuan's identity and background
Cho Yong-won, a former Zhao Yong-won, is a political figure in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and is currently a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, Secretary of the ** Committee, and a member of the **Military Commission of the DPRK Labor ***. He is seen as a confidant and loyal supporter of Party General Secretary Kim Jong-un.
Cho's birth and early life are not clear, but he was born in 1957, according to South Korea's Ministry of Unification. He served in the Korean People's Army and later joined the Labor Organization Guidance Department, where he was responsible for the selection and management of party cadres. In 2012, he was appointed first deputy head of the Ministry of Organizational Guidance and became Kim Jong-un's right-hand man. In 2016, he was elected as a member of the Workers' Party at the first plenary session of the 7th ** Committee. In 2019, he was elected as an alternate member of the Politburo at the Fourth Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee of the Workers' Party. On January 10, 2021, he was elected as a member of the Politburo Standing Committee at the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, becoming a core member of the highest authority in North Korea.
The rise and status of Zhao Yongyuan
Cho Yong-won was able to rise all the way from deputy director of the Organization and Guidance Department to a member of the Politburo Standing Committee mainly because of his close relationship with Kim Jong-un and his absolute obedience to him. Cho Yong-won is considered one of Kim Jong-un's most trusted cronies, often accompanying Kim Jong-un on tour of various places and participating in major political and military activities, such as North Korea's nuclear tests, missile launches, and military parades. He also accompanied Kim Jong-un on many foreign trips, such as China, Russia, Vietnam and other countries, and witnessed important meetings between the DPRK and the United States, South Korea and other countries. Cho Yong-won is second only to Kim Jong-un in North Korea's power structure, and can be said to be the No. 2 person in North Korea.
The influence and role of Zhao Yongyuan
As the No. 2 person in North Korea, Zhao Yongyuan has an important influence and role in North Korea's politics and diplomacy. On the one hand, he is a loyal executor of Kim Jong-un, responsible for implementing Kim Jong-un's will and instructions, maintaining party discipline and unity, and consolidating Kim Jong-un's authority and position. On the other hand, he is also an important adviser to Kim Jong-un, participating in the formulation and promotion of major policies and strategies of the DPRK, such as economic construction, nuclear development, foreign relations, etc. He is also an important liaison between the DPRK and the outside world, maintaining good communication and exchanges with the top level of China, Russia and other countries to win more support and cooperation for the DPRK.
In short, Cho Yong-won is North Korea's No. 2 man, Kim Jong-un's confidant and aide, and a key figure in North Korea's politics and diplomacy. His rise and status reflect Kim Jong-un's stability and confidence in power, as well as the direction and goals of North Korea's politics and diplomacy. His influence and role will have a profound impact on the future of the DPRK and the situation in its neighborhood.