Hong and his fellow associate in the nuclear weapons program, Ri Hong-sop, are known collectively as North Korea's "nuclear duo".[8] The two were the first in line to receive a medal from Kim Jong-un for success in the January 2016 test.[2] Hong's role in the nuclear program has landed him on the sanctions list of either the United Nations, United States, or South Korea.[3] The European Union has added Hong on its "list of persons and entities responsible for the DPRK's nuclear-related, ballistic-missile-related or other weapons of mass destruction-related programmes or persons or entities acting on their behalf or at their direction, or entities owned or controlled by them, subject to restrictive measures".[3]