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

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

The U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions on December 26 against 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 fully denuclearized Korean Peninsula."

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

Ri Pyong-chol, 69, a former air force commander, frequently appears alongside Kim Jong-un in videos and photos on North Korean media. He holds the position of Deputy Director of the Ordnance Industry Bureau of the Workers' Party of Korea, the agency overseeing the development of the ballistic missile program, according to the South Korean government and the U.S. Treasury Department.

South Korea has specifically named Ri Pyong-chol as the person 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 grown significantly since Kim Jong-un came to power.

"Ri is an extremely important figure in North Korea's missile program," commented Kim Jin-moo, an expert on North Korean elites.

Ri, who studied in Russia, was promoted as Kim Jong-un began his rise through the ranks in the late 2000s, according to North Korean leader Michael Madden and a South Korean government official.

He visited China once and Russia twice. Ri met with the Chinese Defense Minister in 2009 as the 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 figure frequently seen accompanying leader Kim Jong-un during missile tests is Kim Jong-sik. However, very little information is available about this official, including his age.

According to observers, he is a veteran rocket scientist with an engineering background. Kim Jong-sik began 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 U.S. Treasury Department stated that Kim Jong-sik played a key role in North Korea's efforts to transition its missile program from liquid to solid fuel.

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

"When the missile was launched and entered low Earth orbit, he was credited with the achievement. Missile and nuclear experts under Kim Jong-un are promoted based on merit," Madden said.

Last year, Kim Jong-sik worked at the North Korean National Aerospace Development Agency (NADA). There, he accompanied leader Kim Jong-un through the mission control room before Pyongyang successfully launched a missile in February 2016.

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

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

The US Treasury Department's decision came after the UN Security Council added Ri and Kim to its list of 16 North Korean individuals subject to sanctions. Of those, only Ri and Kim are directly linked to the nuclear and missile development programs. The others are described as bank representatives.

Besides Kim Jong-sik and Ri Pyong-chol, there was another figure who played a crucial role in North Korea's missile program, but was less well-known: Jang Chang-ha. They formed the powerful "missile trio," according to the New York Times.

Jang Chang-ha served as the chairman of North Korea's National Defense Science Institute, the agency responsible for researching and developing advanced weapons systems, "including missiles and possibly nuclear weapons," the U.S. Treasury Department said in 2010 when it decided to blacklist the organization.

The U.S. Treasury Department accused the agency of purchasing technology, equipment, and information from foreign countries for use in weapons programs. Jang Chang-ha was blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury Department in December 2016.

Commenting on the "missile trio" Ri, Kim, and Jang, Madden stated that "these are the faces that propelled North Korea's missile program into the 21st century."

According to VNE