Jang Jong-nam

General Jang Jong-nam (born c. 1960) is a former defence minister of North Korea. He is believed to be in his 50s.[2]

Jang Jong-nam
NationalityNorth Korean
OccupationMinister of People's Armed Forces
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl
장정남
Hancha
Revised RomanizationJang Jeong-nam
McCune–ReischauerChang Chŏngnam

Career

Jang is believed to have played a role in the 2010 bombardment of Yeonpyeong, which killed four people.[2]

Jang was made colonel general on the occasion of Kim Il-sung's 99th birthday in April 2011. He delivered a speech on the first anniversary of Kim Jong-il's death in December 2012 pledging loyalty to Kim Jong-un and threatening to "ravine [the enemies] into their death pitfall when the hour of decisive battle comes".[3] He was identified as general and commander of the forward-deployed 1st Army Corps of the Korean People's Army on that occasion.[2]

Jang was unexpectedly appointed minister of the People's Armed Forces in early May 2013.[2][4] He is the third defence minister appointed by Kim Jong-un since taking control of North Korea in December 2011 (Kim Jong-il only replaced two defence ministers in his 17-year leadership).[2] He was replaced in June 2014.

References
  1. "揭秘：朝鲜人民武装力量部新部长张正男" [Secret: New Minister of the People's Armed Forces of North Korea, Zhang Zhengnan]. Xinhua News (in Chinese). 2013-05-14. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  2. Mundy, Simon (13 May 2013). "N Korea replaces armed forces minister". Financial Times. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  3. "KPA Holds Memorial and Loyalty Meeting On KJI Death Anniversary". North Korea Leadership Watch. 17 December 2012. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
  4. "North Korea Defense Minister Kim Kyok Sik Replaced With Jang Jong Nam". Huffington Post. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
Political offices
Preceded by
Kim Kyok-sik		 Minister of the People's Armed Forces
2013–2014		 Succeeded by
Hyon Yong-chol
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