Park Jong-chun, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea, the number one rank in the North Korean military, was dismissed.
However, there are observations that the South Korean military may have been held accountable for not detecting the unmanned aerial vehicle sent to North Korea.
North Korean state media, including the Chosun Central News Agency, reported that personnel issues were discussed at the Labor Party plenary meeting at the end of the year.
However, the reason for his dismissal was not disclosed.
In a video of the event released by Chosun Central TV, Park Jeong-cheon was caught bowing his head without participating in a vote on organizational issues.
Some observers say that the South Korean military is taking responsibility for not detecting the drone it sent up.
On the 26th of last month, the South Korean military sent two unmanned reconnaissance aircraft operated by the Army to North Korea to take reconnaissance photos in response to North Korean drones invading the airspace.
It is the first time that our drone has crossed the military demarcation line and North Korea has not been able to detect it at all.