[2] Jang is believed to have played a role in the 2010 bombardment of Yeonpyeong, which killed four people.
[2] Jang was made colonel general on the occasion of Kim Il Sung's 99th birthday in April 2011.
He delivered a speech on the first anniversary of Kim Jong Il's death in December 2012 pledging loyalty to Kim Jong Un and threatening to "ravine [the enemies] into their death pitfall when the hour of decisive battle comes".
[2] Jang was unexpectedly appointed minister of the People's Armed Forces in early May 2013.
In September 2021 he was appointed minister of Social Security and promoted to alternate member of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea.