The 15th Cabinet of North Korea was elected by the 1st Session of the 15th Convocation of the Supreme People's Assembly on 22 March 2026.[1]
Overview
The Second Economic Commission which is responsible for the defense industry was placed under the cabinet in a step seen by some analysts as a move to further strengthen the Cabinet responsibility across the economy.[1] A new position was created in the cabinet, First Vice Premier with Kim Tok-hun appointed to the position.[1]
Composition
As of 22 March 2026, the Cabinet consists of the following members:
| Position | Minister | Political party | Took office | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier | Pak Thae-song | Workers' Party | 29 December 2024 | [2][3] | |
| First Vice Premier | Kim Tok-hun | Workers' Party | 22 March 2026 | [3] | |
| Vice Premier and Chairman of the State Planning Commission | Pak Jong-gun | Workers' Party | 17 January 2021 | [4][3] | |
| Vice Premier | Jon Hyon-chol | Workers' Party | 22 March 2026 | [3] | |
| Vice Premier | Pak Hun | Workers' Party | 22 March 2026 | [3] | |
| Vice Premier | Ri Kyong-il | Workers' Party | 22 March 2026 | [3] | |
| Vice Premier | Kim Chang-sok | Workers' Party | 22 March 2026 | [3] | |
| Vice Premier | Jon Sung-guk | Workers' Party | 8 June 2022 | [5][3] | |
| Vice Premier and Chairman of the Agricultural Commission | Ri Chol-man | Workers' Party | 30 December 2023 | [6][3] | |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | Choe Son-hui | Workers' Party | 8 June 2022 | [7][3] | |
| Minister of Public Security | Pang Tu-sop | Workers' Party | 30 July 2024 | [8][3] | |
| Secretary General of the Cabinet | Kim Kum-chol | Workers' Party | 17 January 2021 | [4][3] | |
| Minister of Metallurgical Industry | Kim Kwang-nam | Workers' Party | 22 March 2026 | [3] | |
| Minister of Chemical Industry | Kim Son-myong | Workers' Party | January 2026 | [9][3] | |
| Minister of Electric Power Industry | Kim Yu-il | Workers' Party | 17 January 2021 | [4][3] | |
| Minister of Coal Industry | Ri Yong-chol | Workers' Party | 22 March 2026 | [3] | |
| Ministry of Railways | Kim Ha-gyu | Workers' Party | 22 March 2026 | [3] | |
| Minister of Land and Maritime Transport | Jo Jong-ryong | Workers' Party | 22 March 2026 | [3] | |
| Minister of Mining Industry | Ri Sang-do | Workers' Party | 30 December 2023 | [6][3] | |
| Minister of Natural Resources Development | Kwon Song-hwan | Workers' Party | 29 December 2024 | [2][3] | |
| Minister of Forestry | Han Yong-ho | Workers' Party | 22 March 2026 | [3] | |
| Minister of Machine-Building Industry | Ri Kwang-nam | Workers' Party | 22 March 2026 | [3] | |
| Minister of Nuclear Power Industry | Wang Chang-uk | Workers' Party | 11 April 2019 | [10][3] | |
| Minister of Shipbuilding at the Second Economy Commission | Kim Kwang-il | Workers' Party | 22 March 2026 | [3] | |
| Minister of IT Industry | Ju Yong-il | Workers' Party | 17 January 2021 | [4][3] | |
| Minister of Construction and Building-Materials Industry | So Jong-jin | Workers' Party | 17 January 2021 | [4][3] | |
| Minister of State Construction Control | Yang Ki-song | Workers' Party | 22 March 2026 | [3] | |
| Minister of Light Industry | Ri Yong-gun | Workers' Party | 22 March 2026 | [3] | |
| Minister of Regional Industry | Kim Chol-bom | Workers' Party | 22 March 2026 | [3] | |
| Minister of Fisheries | Yun Song-chol | Workers' Party | 22 March 2026 | [3] | |
| Minister of Finance | Ri Myong-guk | Workers' Party | 1 July 2024 | [11][3] | |
| Minister of Labor | Jin Kum-song | Workers' Party | 17 January 2021 | [4][3] | |
| Minister of External Economic Relations | Yun Jong-ho | Workers' Party | 17 January 2021 | [4][3] | |
| Chairman of the State Commission of Science and Technology | Kim Song-bin | Workers' Party | 8 October 2024 | [12][3] | |
| President of the State Academy of Sciences | Kim Sung-jin | Workers' Party | 29 December 2019 | [13][3] | |
| Minister of Land and Environment Protection | Yang Yong-jin | Workers' Party | 22 March 2026 | [3] | |
| Minister of Urban Management | Kim Son-il | Workers' Party | 22 March 2026 | [3] | |
| Minister of Disaster Management | Kim Chol-nam | Workers' Party | 22 March 2026 | [3] | |
| Minister of Grain Administration | Kim Kwang-jin | Workers' Party | 27 September 2023 | [14][3] | |
| Minister of Commerce | Kim Yong-sik | Workers' Party | 29 December 2024 | [2][3] | |
| Minister of Education | Kim Chol-nam | Workers' Party | 22 March 2026 | [3] | |
| Minister of Public Health | Kim Tu-won | Workers' Party | 22 March 2026 | [3] | |
| Minister of Culture | Hyon Un-chol | Workers' Party | 22 March 2026 | [3] | |
| Minister of Physical Culture and Sports | Kim Il-guk | Workers' Party | December 2016 | [15][3] | |
| President of the Central Bank | Paek Min-gwang | Workers' Party | 27 September 2023 | [14][3] | |
| Director of the Central Bureau of Statistics | Ri Chol-san | Workers' Party | 17 January 2021 | [4][3] | |
References
Citations
- 1 2 3 Park ji-youn (2026-03-23). "North Korea reelects Kim Jong-un, elevates Jo Yong-won, shifts munitions to Cabinet". Chosun Biz. Retrieved 2026-03-25.
- 1 2 3 "Press Release of Eleventh Plenary Meeting of Eighth C.C., WPK". KCNA Watch. 29 December 2024.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 "Cabinet Members Appointed at First Session of 15th SPA of DPRK". KCNA Watch. 23 March 2026. Archived from the original on 2026-03-25.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Members of the DPRK Cabinet Appointed". KCNA Watch. 18 January 2021.
- ↑ "Press Release of 5th Plenum of 8th C.C., WPK Issued". KCNA Watch. 11 June 2022.
- 1 2 "Report on 9th Enlarged Plenum of 8th WPK Central Committee". KCNA Watch. 31 December 2023.
- ↑ "Report on 5th Enlarged Plenary Meeting of 8th CC, WPK". KCNA Watch. 11 June 2022.
- ↑ "22nd Emergency Enlarged Meeting of Political Bureau of Eighth C.C, WPK Held". KCNA Watch. 31 July 2024.
- ↑ "김선명". Yonhap News Agency.
- ↑ "First Session of 14th SPA Held". KCNA Watch. 12 April 2019.
- ↑ "Report on Enlarged Meeting of Tenth Plenary Meeting of Eighth Central Committee of WPK". KCNA Watch. 2 July 2024.
- ↑ "At 11th Session of 14th SPA of DPRK". KCNA Watch. 9 October 2024.
- ↑ "Report on 5th Plenary Meeting of 7th C.C., WPK". KCNA Watch. 1 January 2020.
- 1 2 "9th Session of 14th SPA of DPRK Held". KCNA Watch. 28 September 2023.
- ↑ "김일국". Yonhap News Agency.
Bibliography
Books:
- Suh, Dae-sook (1981). Korean Communism 1945–1980: A Reference Guide to the Political System (1st ed.). University Press of Hawaii. ISBN 0-8248-0740-5.