'Overseas Exile' Kim Il-sung's Son-in-law and Kim Jong-il's Half-brother's 'Pyongyang Return Mystery'

Kim Kwang-seop, North Korean Ambassador to Austria, Replaced After 27 Years
Following Kim Pyong-il, 'Baekdu Bloodline's Collateral Branches' Summoned Back to North Korea
"Kim Jong-un's Confidence," "Close Surveillance of Dangerous Elements," Observations Diverge

On the 12th, Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, supervised an artillery unit's artillery firing competition and instructed that such training competitions continue in the future, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 13th. The photo, released by Korean Central TV that afternoon, shows the training supervision scene where Chairman Kim is watching the training with a broad smile. Photo by Korean Central TV.

North Korea has replaced Ambassador Kim Kwang-seop, the son-in-law of President Kim Il-sung, who was stationed in Austria, after 27 years and recalled him to Pyongyang. Recently, North Korea also repatriated former Czech Ambassador Kim Pyong-il, the half-brother of National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, sparking various speculations about the background.

On the 14th, the North Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, "Choe Kang-il has been appointed as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the Republic of Austria."

The predecessor, Kim Kwang-seop, is the son-in-law of President Kim Il-sung, and his wife is Kim Kyong-jin, the half-sister of National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il. He served as ambassador to the Czech Republic before being appointed ambassador to Austria in April 1993.

In November last year, the National Intelligence Service raised the possibility that Kim Kwang-seop might return to North Korea together with his brother-in-law, Ambassador Kim Pyong-il, who was stationed in the Czech Republic.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also officially confirmed on the same day that Ambassador Ju Won-chol, known as a 'Europe expert' within the ministry, was appointed as the successor to Kim Pyong-il, who had served as ambassador to the Czech Republic since 2015.

After losing the power struggle with his half-brother Kim Jong-il, Kim Pyong-il lived in effective exile abroad for over 30 years. Since his appointment as ambassador to Hungary in 1988, he has been stationed overseas continuously.

Even Kim Jong-un, who took power after Kim Jong-il, did not keep his uncle, Ambassador Kim Pyong-il, close.

After Kim Jong-nam, Kim Jong-un's half-brother, was assassinated in Malaysia in 2017, there were speculations that Kim Pyong-il might be the next target.

Concerns about his safety grew especially after a European defector group announced that they had contacted Kim Pyong-il to install him as the head of a provisional government in exile.

The fact that Kim Jong-un has simultaneously recalled Kim Kwang-seop and Kim Pyong-il, both considered 'Baekdu bloodline branches' who had long been wandering abroad, has led to various interpretations.

First, some analysts suggest that feeling internal and external crises due to prolonged sanctions and economic difficulties, Kim Jong-un may be keeping these 'Baekdu bloodline collateral branches' close to monitor them carefully and manage even minimal risks precisely.

Paradoxically, their return may reflect Kim Jong-un's confidence. Having solidified his power base, Kim Jong-un no longer views these 'collateral forces' as threats, which is why he has called them back to Pyongyang.

Meanwhile, Choe Kang-il, appointed as Kim Kwang-seop's successor, is a former deputy director (acting director) of the North American Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is considered one of North Korea's top 'U.S. experts.' He played a key role in assisting Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui during preparations for the North Korea-U.S. summits.

In February 2018, when the Korean Peninsula situation was showing rapid changes, he visited South Korea to attend the closing ceremony of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics alongside then-Workers' Party Vice Chairman Kim Yong-chol.

Since then, Choe Kang-il accompanied Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui whenever she met with Sung Kim, the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, in Panmunjom and Singapore, providing practical support for the June 2018 North Korea-U.S. summit in Singapore.

He also participated in agenda discussions with Kim Hyok-chol, North Korea's special representative for U.S. affairs at the State Affairs Commission, during the Hanoi North Korea-U.S. summit in February last year.

On the same day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Choe Il was appointed ambassador to Poland. Choe Il is believed to have served as ambassador to the United Kingdom since 2016.

The ministry also disclosed that Jeong Seong-il was appointed ambassador to South Africa and Han Sung-woo as ambassador to Iran.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.