Ri was born in South Pyo'ngan Province, Pyo'ngso'ng in Korea, Empire of Japan on 25 January 1925.

Ri was elected to the National Defence Commission in 1998, being also promoted to the second highest military rank of vice-marshal.

As the Workers' Party politburo, central military commission and central committee were de facto suspended under Kim Jong Il's "military first" policy from 1994 to 2010, the National Defence Commission became in practice the highest decision-making body in the country and Ri hence part of the innermost circle of power.

When in 2010 Kim Jong Il revived Workers' Party operations after 16 years of dormancy, Ri was also elected to the politburo.

Ri retained his place in the Politburo at the 4th Party Conference in 2012, and was reelected to the National Defence Commission by the 13th Supreme People's Assembly.