Jo is a confidant of the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, and accompanies him often on guidance tours, mostly in relation to economy.
[6] According to NK News, Jo was "once described as a 'rising star' of DPRK politics [and] remains one of the country's most important officials."
[3] In March 2021 in Pyongyang, Jo "sharply censured the shortcomings" of WPK city and county level cadre, calling out their "deviations of failing to properly apply our Party's people-first politics.
"[7] In January 2017, the United States Department of the Treasury sanctioned Jo for his involvement in the censorship activities of the OGD.
[8][9] In June 2017, Jo was singled out in Annex 1 of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2356, which placed an international travel ban and asset freeze on him.