Ministry of Defence (North Korea)

Government agency

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Ministry of DefenceAgency overview

Jurisdiction|  North Korea
Headquarters| Pyongyang
39°3′39″N 125°44′20″E﻿ / ﻿39.06083°N 125.73889°E﻿ / 39.06083; 125.73889
Minister responsible|

* General No Kwang-chol

Parent agency| State Affairs Commission
Ministry of Defence

Chosŏn'gŭl|

조선민주주의인민공화국 국방성

Hancha|

朝鮮民主主義人民共和國 國防省

Revised Romanization| Joseon Minjujuui Inmin Gonghwaguk Gukbangseong
McCune–Reischauer| Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk Kukpangsŏng

The Ministry of Defence (Korean: 국방성; Hancha: 國防省, formerly 인민무력성/人民武力省 or Ministry of the People's Armed Forces) is the government agency under the State Affairs Commission tasked with general administrative and logistical coordination of the Korean People's Army (KPA). The current Minister of National Defence is General No Kwang-chol.

## History

[edit]

Until December 1972, the Minister of the People's Armed Forces was called the Minister of National Defence (민족보위상).[1] It then changed to the Ministry of the People's Armed Forces.

Prior to 1992, it was under the direct control of supreme commander and president, with guidance from the National Defence Commission and the Workers' Party Central Military Commission. The 1992 amendment to the Constitution of North Korea shifts its control to the National Defence Commission. The 2016 amendment shifted its control to the State Affairs Commission.[citation needed] It was renamed to the Ministry of National Defense in October 2020.[2]

## Duties

[edit]

The Ministry of Defence is essentially an umbrella agency gathering the KPA's logistical, political, and personnel components.[3] The ministry also has departments which coordinate relations with foreign militaries, as well as regulating Government-owned corporations related to the defence industry and other foreign currency earning ventures.

The ministry, through the General Staff Department is responsible for the daily operational planning and management of the KPA's ground, naval, and air commands. It develops strategy, conducts education and training, conveys the orders and guidance of the KPA Supreme Command and completes certain signals intelligence tasks.

## Departments

[edit]

The Ministry of National Defence contains the following departments:[4]

* General Political Bureau
* General Staff Department
* Security Command

Both the Director of the General Political Bureau and Chief of the General Staff have more power than the Minister.

## Ministers of Defence

[edit]

No. | Portrait  | Minister | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Defence branch

|
|
|
|
|
|

| Yong-gon, ChoeVice Marshal
Choe Yong-gon
최용건
(1900–1976)| September 1948| September 1957| 9 years|  Korean People's Army Ground Force

| Kwang-hyop, KimGeneral
Kim Kwang-hyop
김광협
(1915–1970)| September 1957| October 1962| 5 years, 1 month|  Korean People's Army Ground Force

| Chang-bong, KimGeneral
Kim Chang-bong
김창봉| October 1962| December 1968| 6 years, 2 months|  Korean People's Army Ground Force

| Hyon, ChoeGeneral
Choe Hyon

(1907–1982)| December 1968| May 1976| 7 years, 5 months|  Korean People's Army Ground Force

| Jin-u, OMarshal
O Jin-u
오진우
(1917–1995)| May 1976| February 1995| 18 years, 9 months|  Korean People's Army Ground Force

| Kwang, ChoeMarshal
Choe Kwang

(1918–1997)| October 1995| February 1997| 1 year, 4 months|  Korean People's Army Ground Force

| Il-chol, KimVice Marshal
Kim Il-chol
김일철
(1933–2023)| February 1997| February 2009| 12 years|  Korean People's Navy

| Yong-chun, KimVice Marshal
Kim Yong-chun
김영춘
(1936–2018)| February 2009| April 2012| 3 years, 2 months|  Korean People's Army Ground Force

| Jong-gak, KimVice Marshal
Kim Jong-gak
김정각
(born 1941)| April 2012| November 2012| 7 months|  Korean People's Army Ground Force
10|

| Kyok-sik, KimGeneral
Kim Kyok-sik
김격식
(1938–2015)| November 2012| May 2013| 6 months|  Korean People's Army Ground Force
11|

| Jong-nam, JangGeneral
Jang Jong-nam
장정남| May 2013| June 2014| 1 year, 1 month|  Korean People's Army Ground Force
12|

| Yong-chol, HyonGeneral
Hyon Yong-chol
현영철
(1949–2015)| June 2014| 12 May 2015| 11 months|  Korean People's Army Ground Force
Unknown
(12 May 2015 – 11 July 2015)
13|

| Yong-sik, PakGeneral
Pak Yong-sik
박영식
(born 1950)| 11 July 2015| 4 June 2018| 2 years, 10 months|  Korean People's Army Ground Force
14|

| Kwang-chol, NoGeneral
No Kwang-chol
노광철
(born 1956)| 4 June 2018| December 2019| 1 year, 6 months|  Korean People's Army Ground Force
15|

| Jong-gwan, KimGeneral
Kim Jong-gwan
김정관| December 2019| 29 September[citation needed] 2021| 1 year, 8 months|  Korean People's Army Ground Force
16|

| Yong-gil, RiVice Marshal
Ri Yong-gil
리영길
(born 1955)| 29 September[citation needed] 2021| 31 December 2022| 1 year, 2 months|  Korean People's Army Ground Force
17|

| Sun-nam, KangGeneral
Kang Sun-nam
강순남| 31 December 2022[5]| 8 October 2024| 1 year, 9 months|  Korean People's Army Ground Force
18|

| Kwang-chol, NoGeneral
No Kwang-chol
노광철
(born 1956)| 8 October 2024[6]| Incumbent| 2 months|  Korean People's Army Ground Force

## See also

[edit]

Portals:

* North Korea
* Politics

* Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of North Korea
* General Staff Department of the Korean People's Army
* General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Tertitskiy, Fyodor (7 February 2018). "The unusual history of North Korea's military foundation day". NK News. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
2. ^ "북한정보포털 | 북한 지식사전(2021)". nkinfo.unikorea.go.kr (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2024-05-28. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
3. ^ "38 North Special Report: Recent Changes in Kim Jong Un's High Command". 38 North. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
4. ^ Worden, Robert L., ed. (2008). North Korea: A Country Study. Library of Congress, Federal Research Division. p. 242. ISBN 9780160814228.
5. ^ "조선로동당 중앙위원회 제8기 제6차전원회의 공보". KCNA Watch. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
6. ^ Lee, Haye-ah (9 October 2024). "N. Korea amends constitution at parliamentary meeting without disclosing details". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 9 October 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Korean People's Army

Active forces|

* Ground Force
* Navy
* Air Force
* Strategic Force
* Special Operation Force
* Missile General Bureau

Paramilitary and reserve forces|

* Worker-Peasant Red Guards
* Red Youth Guards
* Reserve Military Training Units
* Social Security Forces

Senior leadership|

* Supreme Commander
* Central Military Commission
* State Affairs Commission (formerly National Defence Commission)
* Ministry of Defence
* General Political Bureau
* General Staff Department
* Supreme Guard Command
* Military Security Command
* Reconnaissance General Bureau

History|

* Military history of Korea
* List of militant Korean independence activist organizations
* Korean People's Revolutionary Army
* Korean Volunteer Army
* Naval history of Korea

WMDs

Biological
Chemical
Nuclear

* v
* t
* e

Commanders of the Korean People's Army

Commanders-in-Chief|

* Choe Yong-gon (1948–50)
* Kim Il Sung (1950–91)
* Kim Jong Il (1991–2011)
* Kim Jong Un (2011–present)

Ministry of Defence|

* Choe Yong-gon (1948–57)
* Kim Kwang-hyop (1957–62)
* Kim Chang-bong (1962–68)
* Choe Hyon (1968–76)
* O Jin-u (1976–95)
* Choe Kwang (1995–97)
* Kim Il-chol (1997–2009)
* Kim Yong-chun (2009–12)
* Kim Jong-gak (2012)
* Kim Kyok-sik (2012–13)
* Jang Jong-nam (2013–14)
* Hyon Yong-chol (2014–15)
* Unknown (2015)
* Pak Yong-sik (2015–18)
* No Kwang-chol (2018–19)
* Kim Jong-gwan (2019–21)
* Ri Yong-gil (2021–22)
* Kang Sun-nam (2022–24)
* No Kwang-chol (2024–present)

Chiefs of the General Staff|

* Kang Kon (1948–50)
* Nam Il (1950–53)
* Kim Kwang-hyop (1953–57)
* Lee Kwon-mu (1957–59)
* Kim Chang-bong (1959–62)
* Choe Kwang (1962–68)
* O Jin-u (1968–79)
* O Kuk-ryol (1979–88)
* Choe Kwang (1988–95)
* Kim Yong-chun (1995–2007)
* Kim Kyok-sik (2007–09)
* Ri Yong-ho (2009–12)
* Hyon Yong-chol (2012–13)
* Kim Kyok-sik (2013)
* Ri Yong-gil (2013–16)
* Ri Myong-su (2016–18)
* Ri Yong-gil (2018–19)
* Pak Jong-chon (2019–21)
* Rim Kwang-il (2021–22)
* Ri Thae-sop (2022)
* Park Su-il (2022–23)
* Ri Yong-gil (2023–present)

Italics indicate interim officeholder
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