The trio of 'rocket men' are highly regarded by Kim Jong-un

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un applauds after a successful missile launch. Photo: KCNA.

The US Treasury Department on December 26 announced sanctions on two North Korean officials, Kim Jong-sik and Ri Pyong-chol, a move in a campaign "to maximize pressure to isolate North Korea and move toward a complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula".

These two men are said to be close confidants to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in charge of the ballistic missile development program. Newsweek described them as North Korea's "real rocket men".

Ri Pyong-chol, 69, a former air force commander who frequently appears alongside Kim Jong-un in videos and photos in North Korean media, is deputy director of the Workers' Party's Munitions Industry Department, which oversees the development of the country's ballistic missile program, according to the South Korean government and the US Treasury Department.

South Korea has named Ri Pyong-chol as the man in charge of activities related to North Korea's weapons programs. Ri was seen alongside the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il 10 years ago, but his power and influence have increased since Kim Jong-un took power.

"Ri is a very important figure in North Korea's missile program," said Kim Jin-moo, an expert on North Korea's elite.

Ri, who studied in Russia, was promoted as Kim Jong-un began rising through the ranks in the late 2000s, said Michael Madden, an expert on North Korea's leadership, and a South Korean government official.

He has visited China once and Russia twice. Ri met China's defense minister in 2009 as commander of the North Korean air force and accompanied leader Kim Jong-il on a visit to a Russian fighter jet factory in 2011.

Another face that has been seen accompanying leader Kim Jong-un on missile tests is Kim Jong-sik. However, there is very little information about this official, including his age.

According to observers, he is a veteran rocket scientist with a background in engineering. Kim Jong-sik started his career as a civil aviation technician but now wears a military uniform with the rank of general at the Ordnance Industry Bureau.

A press release from the US Treasury Department said Kim Jong-sik played a key role in North Korea's efforts to transition its missile program from liquid to solid fuel.

Kim Jong-sik's role in North Korea's successful missile launch in 2012 really helped him score points with leader Kim Jong-un, according to Madden.

“When the missile was launched and entered low Earth orbit, he got the credit. The missile and nuclear experts under Kim Jong-un were promoted based on merit,” Madden said.

Last year, Kim Jong-sik worked at the National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA), where he accompanied leader Kim Jong-un through the mission control room ahead of Pyongyang’s successful rocket launch in February 2016.

A Reuters article described Kim Jong-sik as not coming from the North Korean elite, unlike most senior officials in Pyongyang. He also studied in Russia like Ri Pyong-chol.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (center), Ri Pyong-chol (second from left), Kim Jong-sik (center, back row) and Jang Chang-ha (second from right) smile after the successful launch of the Hwasong-12 ballistic missile on May 14. Photo: KCNA.

The Treasury Department's decision came after the United Nations Security Council placed Ri and Kim on a list of 16 North Korean individuals subject to sanctions. Of those, only Ri and Kim are directly involved in the nuclear and missile development program. The others are described as bankers.

In addition to Kim Jong-sik and Ri Pyong-chol, there is another face that also plays an important role in the North Korean missile program but is the least known. This person is Jang Chang-ha. They form a powerful "missile trio", according to the New York Times.

Jang Chang-ha served as president of North Korea's Academy of National Defense Science, which is responsible for the research and development of advanced weapons systems, "including missiles and possibly nuclear weapons," the US Treasury Department said in 2010, when it blacklisted the organization.

The US Treasury Department accused the agency of acquiring technology, equipment and information from abroad for use in weapons programs. Jang Chang-ha was blacklisted by the US Treasury Department in December 2016.

Commenting on the "missile trio" Ri - Kim - Jang, Madden said "these are the faces that brought the North Korean missile program into the 21st century".

According to VNE