[3] He was reportedly stripped of his Marshal title and demoted to alternate Politburo member in June 2021, following an unspecified "grave incident".

In September, however, he was promoted to member of the Politburo Presidium and transferred from his military role to a position as secretary of the Central Committee.

[5] On 31 August 2023 Kim Jong-Un visited the Training Command Post of the KPA General Staff Department where he was accompanied by Defense Minister Kang Sun-Nam and Marshal Pak Jong-chon reappearing in military duties, some sources speculated that Pak was given the title Director of the Political Leadership over Military Affairs of the Central Committee of the WPK.

On 12 September 2023 Pak and several officials including Defense Minister Kang Sun-Nam and Ri Pyong-chol arrived at Russia for an summit with Vladimir Putin which may discuss arms deal that are not supported by the UN Security Council.

[7] On 31 December 2023, during a plenary meeting of the WPK Central Committee, Pak was reinstated as a vice chairman of the CMC.