[2] He was elected First Secretary of the Central Committee of the KISYL at the fourteenth session of its eight plenary meeting on 23–25 November 1998, succeeding Choe Ryong-hae.
He was also tasked with South Korean president Kim Dae-jung's visit to the Mangyongdae Children's Palace.
From thereon until 2007, he wrote and proliferated works honoring Ko Yong-hui, wife of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
[6] In 2012, Ri became the secretary tasked with publicity and information of the Pyongyang City Committee of the WPK.
[7][8] Ri was first elected to the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) in July 1998 and became a member of its Presidium in its first session in September.