Im's early career was with rail transport in North Korea, and his rise is seen as a continued effort to improve the sector.
[2] In March 2012, Im played a key role at a meeting of Asian members of the Organization for Cooperation of Railways in Pyongyang.
The decision was formally made by the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, although it is likely that senior party officials had discussed it beforehand.
Im's appointment was seen by observers as a sign that North Korea would continue to improve the state of its railways and pursue international rail connections.
[2][4] Im was one of several politicians from a civilian background (as opposed to the Korean People's Army and security services) that rose to the Politburo at the Congress, shifting its balance to a more conventional direction.