He has also been accused of involvement in North Korea's chemical and nuclear weapons programs.

Ri was born in Damyang, South Jeolla Province, Korean Empire in 1905.

He graduated from the local pot'ong hakkyo and received his degree in chemistry from Kyoto University in 1931.

[1] Ri received the Lenin Prize in 1962, and was made head of the North Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute in June 1965.

This biographical article about a North Korean personality is a stub.