Biographies

List updated June 26, 2017
This is a collection of biographical sketches and chronologies (i.e. CVs) of DPRK elites.

Information contained in these biosketches and chronologies is derived from open source information (books, media reports, government reports, official press statements, essays, academic journals, non-governmental organization newsletters, and international organization reports) including Rodong Sinmun/Korea Central News Agency; Yonhap News Agency and Vantage Point; Naewoe Publishing; Korea Institute for National Unification [KINU], Xinhua News Agency, Korean Journal of Defense Analysis, various official databases and archives, the author’s own files and archives, and human sources from the DPRK, Japan and the US.

Readers of this site seeking additional information about DPRK leadership listed below, or who would like to see a biosketch on a particular DPRK elite produced and disseminated  can contact <nkleadershipwatch@gmail.com>.

Key

[bsk]: refers to a full biographical sketch of the relevant elite

[C]: refers to a chronology, or a list of dates and position appointments/elections

 

 

An Jong Su, Director, WPK Light Industry Department (2014-present) [bsk]

Chae Hui Jong (deceased) Director, WPK Document Archive Office (1995-2013) (c)

Choe Hwi, Senior Deputy Director, WPK Propaganda and Agitation Department (bsk)

Choe Ryong Hae, Vice Chairman of the WPK for Workers’ and Social Organizations(2016-); Vice Chairman, State Affairs Commission (2016-) WPK Secretary (2010-2016) Director of the KPA General Political Department (2012-2014) (bsk)

Col. Gen. Choe Sang Uk, former member, WPK Central Military Commission (1980-2010); former commander KPA Special Operations Forces (1980s) (bsk)

Choe Son Hui, Department Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (bsk)

Gen. Choe Pu Il, Minister of People’s Security;  Member, WPK Political Bureau Member, Central Military Committee; Member, State Affairs Commission (2016-) (bsk)

Choe Thae Bok Vice Chairman for Science and Education (2016-); SPA Speaker (Chairman); WPK Secretary for Science and Education (1986-2016);   (bsk)

Choe Yong Rim Honorary Vice President of the SPA Presidium; DPRK Premier (2010-2013)(bsk)

Ho Myong Uk,  Director, Office #35 (bsk)

Hong In Bom, Chairman, WPK Control Commission (2016-); Chief Secretary (chairman), South P’yo’ngan WPK Provincial Committee (bsk)

VMAR Hwang Pyong So, Director of the KPA General Political Department (bsk)

Hong Sung Mu, CC KWP Deputy Director of Machine-Building Industry (bsk)

Hong Yong Chil, CC KWP Deputy Director of Machine-Building Industry (bsk)

VMAR Hyon Chol Hae,  1st Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces (2012-2013); Director, NDC Standing Bureau (2007-2012) (bsk)

Col. Gen. Hyon Yong Chol, Minister of the People’s Armed Forces (June 2014-present) Commander V Corps (May 2013-June 2014) Chief of the KPA General Staff (July 2012-May 2013)

Mr. Jang Song Taek (deceased) NDC Vice Chairman; Director CCKWP Administration Department; KJI brother-in-law (bsk)

Jang Yong Chol, DPRK Ambassador to Malaysia (2011-2013)

Ji Jae Ryong, DPRK Ambassador to China (PRC) (bsk)

Jo Chun Ryong, Chairman of the Second Economic Committee; NDC Member (2014-2016) (bsk)

VMAR Jo Myong-rok (deceased) NDC Vice Chairman (1998-2010), Director, MPAF GPD (1995-2010), Member, CMC (1980-2010), Member, CC KWP Political Bureau Presidium (2010) (bsk)

Mr. Jon Hui Jong, Director, NDC Foreign Affairs Department (2007-2011) (c)

Jon Il Chun, Deputy Director of the KWP Finance and Accounting Department (Office #39) former chief officer, DPRK Taepung International Investment Group and State Development Bank (0n behalf of the NDC) (bsk)

Mr. Jon Pyong Ho, Director Cabinet Political Bureau and Chief Secretary Party Committee (2010-2012) (bsk); Member, NDC (1990-2011); CC KWP Secretary of Military Industry (1986-2010)

Gen. Jong Ho Gyun,  Member, CC KWP and CMC ; KPA artillery commander (bsk) (2007-2012)

Gen. Jong Myong Do Commanding Officer, KPA Navy (Naval Command) 2007-2012; Member, CMC, 2010-2012 (bsk)

Mr. Ju Kyu Chang, NDC and CMC Member; CC KWP Director Machine-Building Industry (bsk)

Gen. Ju Sang Song, Director, County People’s Security Branch Office; NDC Member (2009-2011) and Minister of People’s Security (2004-2011) Political Bureau Member (2010-2011)

Col. Gen. Kang Tong Yun, Deputy (Vice) Director, CC KWP Organization and Guidance Department (bsk)

Kang Kwan Chu Director, NDC External Liaison Department (c)

Kang Sang Chun, Director, Personal Secretariat (bsk)

Kang Sok Ju, KWP Secretary and Director of the International Affairs Department (2014–), DPRK Vice Premier (2010-20134 (bsk)

Kim Chang Son, Deputy Director, Personal Secretariat (c)

MAR Kim Chol Man former NDC Member, former CMC Member, former Chairman, Second Economic Committee (c)

Kim Chon Gyun, President, DPRK Central Bank

Kim Chung Il, Chief, Office of Secretaries and Deputy Director, Personal Secretariat (c)

Kim Hi Taek, Ryanggang KWP Provincial Committee Chief Secretary (c)

Col. Gen. Kim Hyong Ryong, Commanding Officer, II Army Corps (bsk)

VMAR Kim Il Chol, former NDC Member and Vice Chairman, former Minister of the People’s Armed Forces (bsk)

Gen. Kim Jong Gak, Dean, Kim Il Sung Military University Graduate School; NDC Member (2009-2013); CMC Member (2010-2013) Minister of the People’s Armed Forces (April 2012 to October 2012)(bsk)

Kim Jong Il  (c)

Kim Jong Nam, KJI son and Personal Secretariat Aide (bskbp)

Kim Jong Un

Kim Jong Sik, CC KWP Machine Building Industry Department Deputy Director (bsk)

Col. Gen. Kim Kang Hwan, former member, CMC (1980-2010) (bsk)

Kim Ki Nam CC KWP Secretary and Director of Publicity and Information; Member, CC KWP Political Bureau (c)

Kim Ki Ryong, Editor in Chief, Rodong Sinmun (bsk) (2010-2013)

Gen. Kim Ki Son, Deputy Director for Organization, MPAF General Political Department (bsk)

Kim Kuk Tae Chairman, CC KWP Control Commission (2010-2014) deceased

Kim Kwang Chol, Minister of Post and Telecommunications (2015-present) [bsk]

Kim Kye Gwan, Senior (1st) Vice Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (bsk)

Gen. Kim Kyok Sik, Vice Chief of the KPA General Staff (2013-present) former Chief of the KPA General Staff (2013; 2007-2009) former commander IV Army Corps (2009-2011), Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces (2011-2012) Minister of the People’s Armed Forces (November 2012-May 2013)  (bsk)

Kim Kyong Hui KWP Central Committee Secretary (2012-2016) and KJI’s sister (bsk)

Kim Kyong Ok, Senior Deputy (1st Vice) Director, KWP Organization Guidance Department; Member, CMC (bsk)

Gen. Kim Myong Guk Former Chief of the KPA General Staff Operations Bureau (1994-1996; 2007-2012)

Kim Ok, KJI’s personal secretary and common-law wife

Kim Pyong Hae CC KWP Secretary and Director of Cadres Affairs (c)

Kim Pyong Il, DPRK Ambassador to Poland (c)

Kim Pyong Phal Former Chairman, Central Committee GFTUK (c)

Gen. Kim Pyong Ryul, President, DPRK Central Court (1998-2013)

Gen. Kim Rak Gyom, Commander, KPA Strategic Force (2012-present)

Kim Rak Hui, Vice Premier (2010-2012) deceased

Kim Tong Un (c) Deputy Director, Kim Jong Il’s Personal Secretariat (1988-2011)

Gen. Kim Tu-nam (bsk) (deceased) former CMC Member, former President Kumsusan Memorial Hall

Gen. Kim Won Hong, Minister of State Security (2012-present) WPK Political Bureau Member (2012-present); Member, CMC (2010-present); Member, State Affairs Commission (2016-present); Member, NDC (2012-2016); Director of the Military Security Command (2004-2010) (bsk)

Kim Yang Gon (deceased) WPK Secretary for and Director of the United Front Department (2007-2015); Member and Alternate Member, WPK Political Bureau (2010-2015) [c]

Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un’s sister and Deputy Director KWP Central Committee [bsk]

Gen. Kim Yong Chol, WPK Vice Chairman and Director of Intelligence and South Korean Affairs (2016-present); Member, WPK Political Bureau (2016-present); Member, CMC (2010-present); former Chief of the Reconnaissance General Bureau and Vice Chief of the KPA General Staff (2008-2015) (bsk)

MAR Kim Yong Chun, NDC Vice Chairman (2007-2013); former Minister of the People’s Armed Forces; Former Chief of the KPA General Staff; former Director of the WPK Civil Defense Department; Member, Political Bureau (2010-2014) (bsk)

Kim Yong Jin, DPRK Vice Premier (2012-present)

Kim Yong Il, DPRK Premier 2007-2010 (bsk)

Kim Yong Il, WPK Secretary and Director of International Affairs (2010-2014) [C]

Kim Yong Ju, Honorary Vice President, SPA Presidium; Kim Il Sung’s younger brother; former Director, WPK Organization Guidance Department [c]

Kim Yong Nam, President, Supreme People’s Assembly (c)

Kung Sok Ung, Vice Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (c)

Kwak Pom Ki WPK Vice Chairman and Director of Planning and Finance (2016-present); Member, WPK Political Bureau (2013-present); former DPRK Vice Premier; former Chairman, South Hamgyo’ng WPK Provincial Committee (bsk)

Mun Kyong Dok, WPK Secretary and Chief Secretary, Pyongyang KWP City Committee (2010-2013); Alternate Member, WPK Political Bureau (2010-2013) (bsk)

Gen. O Kuk Ryol, NDC Vice Chairman (Reconnaissance General Bureau) (2009-2016); Member, WPK Political Bureau (2013-2016) (bsk)

O Su Yong, WPK Vice Chairman and Director of the WPK Economic Affairs Department (2016-); Chairman, North Hamgyo’ng WPK Provincial Committee (2010-2014) [bsk]

Mr. Paek Se Bong, NDC Member (2003-2013);  Chair of the Second Economic Committee (2003-2013) (bsk)

Gen. Pak Jae Gyong  (retired) Vice Minister for External Affairs, MPAF (2007-2013); former  head of the KPA General Propaganda Department

VMAR Pak Ki So (deceased) Commander, Pyongyang Defense Command 1992-2003 (bsk)

Pak Nam Gi (deceased) WPK Planning and Finance Department Director 2005-2010 (bsk)

Pak Pong Ju, DPRK Cabinet Premier (2013-present; and 2003-2007)(bsk)

Mr. Pak Myong Chol,President DPRK Central Court (2014-2016); former Minister of Physical Culture and Sports; former NDC Councilor

Pak Myong Sun, deputy director, WPK Light Industry Department (2013-present) (bsk)

Pak To Chun, Member, National Defense Commission (2011-2014); WPK Secretary for Munitions Industry (2010-2015) Chairman Chagang WPK Provincial Committee (2005-2010) (bsk)

Gen. Pyon In Son, Director of the KPA General Staff Operations Bureau (2013-2014) (bak)

Ri Chol [a.k.a. Ri Su Yong] WPK Vice Chairman for and Director of International Affairs (2016-present); Member, WPK Political Bureau (2016-present); Foreign Minister (2014-2016); DPRK Central Broadcasting Committee; Vice Chairman, Committee on Investment and Joint Ventures (2010-2014); DPRK Ambassador to the UN Mission Geneva (1988-2010) (bsk)

Ri Chol Man, WPK Agricultural Department Director (2016-present); DPRK Vice Premier and Minister of Agriculture (2012-2016) [bsk]

Ri Chun Hui, DPRK Media Personality and KCTV News Anchor (bsk)

Ri Hyok Chol, former DPRK Ambassador to Egypt [C]

Ri Il Hwan, WPK Workers and Social Organizations Department Director (2014-present) [bsk]

Ri Jae Il, Senior Deputy Director, CC KWP Propaganda and Agitation Department (2004-present); KJI Personal Secretariat (bsk)

Ri Je Gang (deceased), Senior Deputy Director, CC KWP Organization Guidance Department 2003-2010 (bsk)

Ri Kil Song, Director, Central Public Prosecutor’s Office (2003-2011) [c]

Ri Kwang Gun, Deputy Director, CC KWP United Front Department (bsk)

Ri Man Gon, Member of the State Affairs Commission (2016-present), WPK Vice Chairman and Director of the WPK Munitions Industry Department (2016-present); Chairman, North P’yo’ngan WPK Provincial Committee (2010-2015) [bsk]

VMAR Ri Myong Su, Chief of the KPA General Staff (2016-present); Member, WPK Political Bureau (2012-present) Minister of People’s Security (2011-2013); NDC Member (2011-2013) (bsk)

Gen. Ri Pyong Chol, Senior Deputy Director, WPK Central Committee (2014-present) and Alternate Member of the WPK Political Bureau (2016-present); Commander, KPA Air and Anti-Air Force (2007-2014); Member, CMC (2010-2016) (bsk)

Ri Pyong Gap, DPRK Ambassador to the Czech Republic and Slovakia (2004-2011) (bsk)

Col. Gen. Ri Pyong Sam, Director, Political Bureau, Ministry of Public Security (2007-2014); Alternate Member, WPK Political Bureau (2012-2014) (bsk)

Ri Sang Won, Chairman, Yanggang WPK Provincial Committee (2013-present)

Ri Sol Ju, Wife Of Kim Jong Un

Ri Tae Nam, [deceased] Vice Premier [2010-2011]; Alternate Member, WPK Political Bureau (2010-2013)  [c]

Ri Tuk Nam, Vice Chairman, WPK Control Commission (2010-present) [c]

VMAR RI Tu Ik (deceased), Member, CC KWP (1970-2002); Member, CMC (1980-2002) (bsk)

MAR Ri Ul Sol  (deceased) former Commanding Officer, Guard Command; former member, CMC [c]

Gen. Ri Yong Gil, Chief of the KPA General Staff (2013-2016); Alternate Member, WPK Political Bureau (2016-present) (bsk)

VMAR Ri Yong Ho, Chief of the General Staff (2009-2012); Vice Chairman of the CMC (2010-2012) (bsk)

Ri Yong Ho, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Member, WPK Political Bureau (2016-present); Member, State Affairs Commission (2016-present) (bsk)

VMAR Ri Yong Mu, NDC Vice Chairman (1998-2016); Member, WPK Political Bureau (2010-2016); KJI’s cousin (bsk)

Ro Tu Chol, Vice Premier and Chairman, State Planning Commission; Member, WPK Political Bureau [c]

Thae Jong Su, Chief Secretary, South Hamgyo’ng KWP Committee (2010-2016); Alternate Member, WPK Political Bureau (2010-2016) (bsk)

Gen. U Tong Chuk, Senior (1st) Vice Minister of State Security (bsk)

Gen. Yun Jong Rin, Commander of the Guard Command; Member, CMC (2010-2016) (bsk)