Ri was a confidant and military aide of the former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. He was appointed the head of the Ministry of People's Security by Kim Jong Il in April 2011 and served in that role until removed from power by Kim Jong Un in February 2013.[1][2] He was replaced by Choe Pu-il.[3]
He was made chief of General Staff of the Korean People's Army in February 2016 and promoted to vice marshal rank in April that year.[4]