Ri Pyong-chol

{{Short description|North Korean politician}}

{{about|a North Korean general|the South Korean businessman|Lee Byung-chul}}

{{family name hatnote|Ri||lang=Korean}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Ri Pyong-chol

| honorific_prefix = Marshal

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| office3 = Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea

| term_start4 = 23 May 2020

| term_end4 = 30 June 2021

| 4blankname = Chairman

| 4namedata = Kim Jong Un

| predecessor4 = Choe Ryong-hae

| successor4 =

| term_start3 = 21 June 2022

| term_end3 =

| 1blankname3 = Chairman

| 1namedata3 = Kim Jong Un

| predecessor3 = Seat created

| successor3 =

| office2 = First Deputy Director of the
Organization and Guidance Department

| leader2 = Kim Jong Un

| term_start2 = unknown

| term_end2 =

| predecessor2 =

| successor2 =

| office = Commander of the Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force

| term_start = unknown

| term_end = unknown

| 3blankname = Supreme Commander

| 3namedata = Kim Jong Un

| predecessor =

| successor = Kim Kwang-hyok

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1948}}

| birth_place = North Korea

| death_date =

| death_place =

| education = Red Flag Mangyongdae Revolutionary School

| occupation =

| rank = {{flagicon image|Marshal_of_the_KPA_rank_insignia.svg}} Marshal

| nationality = Korean

| citizenship = North Korean

| allegiance = {{flag|North Korea|1948}}

| branch = {{armed forces|North Korea}}

| party = Workers' Party of Korea

| serviceyears = 1965–present

| years_active =

| known_for =

| notable_works =

| spouse =

| relatives =

| awards =

| module = {{Infobox Korean name/auto

| hangul = %리병철

| hanja = 李炳鐵; 李炳哲

| hanjaref = [https://www.yna.co.kr/nk/person/body?scope=title&query=%EB%A6%AC%EB%B3%91%EC%B2%A0&cid=CNK20060721286200370 리병철(李炳哲)LEE Byeong Cheol] 연합뉴스

| child = yes}}

}}

Ri Pyong-chol ({{Korean|hangul=리병철|context=north}}, born 1948){{cite web |url=http://nkinfo.unikorea.go.kr/nkp/theme/viewPeople.do?nkpmno=23305 |script-title=ko:리병철 |language=ko |trans-title=Ri Pyong-chol |publisher=Ministry of Unification |access-date=January 12, 2018}} is a North Korean military official and formerly a top advisor of supreme leader Kim Jong Un, who serves as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission and a member of the Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea. He is a relative of Kim's wife, Ri Sol-ju. He currently also serves as a director of a department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and First Deputy Director of the WPK Organization and Guidance Department (OGD).{{cite web|url=https://www.38north.org/2014/10/mmadden100614/|website=38 North|title=The NDC's Fall Lineup: Results of the 13th SPA|access-date=2017-12-29}}{{cite web |last1=Collins |first1=Robert |title=North Korea's ORGANIZATION AND GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT |url=https://www.hrnk.org/uploads/pdfs/Collins_OGD_Web.pdf |website=hrnk.org |publisher=Committee for Human Rights in North Korea |access-date=27 July 2020}} General Ri's military and senior Party experience make him an important advisor to Kim Jong Un, especially during crisis. He is an alternate member of the WPK Political Bureau, and a deputy to the Supreme People's Assembly.{{cite web|url=http://www.nkleadershipwatch.org/general-ri-pyong-chol/|title=Ri Pyong Chol | North Korea Leadership Watch|website=nkleadershipwatch.org|access-date=2017-12-29}} Ri served in the Korean People's Army Air Force until 2014 at which time he became a senior party official.{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/who-are-north-korean-officials-us-sanctioned-kim-jong-sik-ri-pyong-chol-760655|website=newsweek.com|title=Who Are the North Korean Officials Sanctioned by the U.S.? Kim Jong Sik and Ri Pyong Chol Are the Real Rocket Men|access-date=2017-12-29}}

In December 2017, the U.S. Treasury department issued sanctions against him, blocking him from "any property or interests in property within U.S. jurisdiction, and prohibits [him] from transactions with American citizens".{{cite web|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/treasury-issued-sanctions-against-key-leaders-north-korea-unlawful-weapons-programs/|title=Treasury issues sanctions against 2 North Korean officials | Chicago Sun-Times|website=chicago.suntimes.com|access-date=2017-12-29}}

In late 2019, Ri became a director of a department of the Central Committee of the party, possibly of the Munitions Industry Department, where he was previously the senior deputy director.{{Cite web |title=North Korea's New Year's Eve party plenum reveals major leadership reshuffle |last=Kim|first=Jeongmin |work=NK News |date=1 January 2020 |access-date=2 January 2020 |url=https://www.nknews.org/2020/01/north-koreas-new-years-eve-party-plenum-reveals-major-leadership-reshuffle/}}

On 23 May 2020, Ri became a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea.{{Cite web |title=Rising stars: North Korea promotes two high-profile military officials |last=Zwirko |first=Colin |work=NK News |date=24 May 2020 |access-date=25 May 2020 |url=https://www.nknews.org/2020/05/rising-stars-north-korea-promotes-two-high-profile-military-officials/}} On 13 August he also became a member of the Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea. On 5 October, he was promoted to Marshal of the Korean People's Army.{{Cite news|date=6 October 2020|title=Title of KPA Marshal Conferred in DPRK|work=Korean Central News Agency|url=https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1601932697-683745083/title-of-kpa-marshal-conferred-in-dprk}}

Following an unspecified "serious incident" in June 2021, Ri was stripped of his military title and demoted to a junior position in the party.{{Cite news|date=6 September 2021|title=North Korea reveals new top military brass days after politburo meeting|work=NK News|url=https://www.nknews.org/2021/09/north-korea-reveals-new-top-military-brass-days-after-politburo-meeting/}} He was again identified as a Politburo Presidium member and secretary of the Central Committee at the celebrations for the 90th anniversary of the Korean People's Army on 25 April 2022.