Ministry of Defence (North Korea)
The Ministry of Defence (Korean: 국방성, formerly 인민무력성 or Ministry of the People's Armed Forces) is the government agency tasked with general administrative and logistical coordination of the Korean People's Army (KPA). Prior to 1992, it was under the direct control of the president, with guidance from the National Defence Commission and the Workers' Party of Korea Military Affairs Department. 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. The current Minister of National Defence is Kim Jong-gwan, who was appointed to the post in December 2019.[1]
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction |  North Korea |
| Headquarters | Pyongyang 39°3′39″N 125°44′20″E |
| Minister responsible | |
| Parent agency | State Affairs Commission |
Duties
The Ministry of Defence is essentially an umbrella agency gathering the KPA's logistical, political, and personnel components. 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
The Ministry of National Defence contains the following departments:[2]
- 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
| No. | Portrait | Minister | Took office | Left office | Time in office | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vice Marshal Choe Yong-gon 최용건 (1900–1976) | September 1948 | September 1957 | 9 years | ||
| 2 | General Kim Kwang-hyop 김광협 (1915–1970) | September 1957 | October 1962 | 5 years, 1 month | ||
| 3 | General Kim Chang-bong 김창봉 | October 1962 | December 1968 | 6 years, 2 months | ||
| 4 | General Choe Hyon 최현 (1907–1982) | December 1968 | May 1976 | 7 years, 5 months | ||
| 5 | Marshal O Jin-u 오진우 (1917–1995) | May 1976 | February 1995 | 18 years, 9 months | ||
| 6 | Marshal Choe Kwang 최광 (1918–1997) | October 1995 | February 1997 | 1 year, 4 months | ||
| 7 | Vice Marshal Kim Il-chol 김일철 (born 1933) | February 1997 | February 2009 | 12 years | ||
| 8 | Vice Marshal Kim Yong-chun 김영춘 (1936–2018) | February 2009 | April 2012 | 3 years, 2 months | ||
| 9 | Vice Marshal Kim Jong-gak 김정각 (born 1941) | April 2012 | November 2012 | 7 months | ||
| 10 | General Kim Kyok-sik 김격식 (1938–2015) | November 2012 | May 2013 | 6 months | ||
| 11 | General Jang Jong-nam 장정남 | May 2013 | June 2014 | 1 year, 1 month | ||
| 12 | General Hyon Yong-chol 현영철 (1949–2015) | June 2014 | 12 May 2015 | 11 months | ||
| Unknown (12 May 2015 – 11 July 2015) | ||||||
| 13 | General Pak Yong-sik 박영식 (born 1950) | 11 July 2015 | 4 June 2018 | 2 years, 10 months | ||
| 14 | General No Kwang-chol 노광철 (born 1956) | 4 June 2018 | December 2019 | 1 year, 6 months | ||
| 15 | General Kim Jong-gwan 김정관 | December 2019 | Incumbent | 1 year, 1 month | ||
See also
References
- "N.K. state media confirms appointment of new defense minister". Yonhap News Agency. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
- Worden, Robert L., ed. (2008). North Korea: A Country Study. Library of Congress, Federal Research Division. p. 242. ISBN 9780160814228.
| Active forces | |
|---|---|
| Paramilitary and reserve forces |
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| Senior leadership | |
Commanders of the Korean People's Army | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chief Commander |
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| Supreme Commanders |
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| Ministry of Defence |
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| Chiefs of the General Staff |
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Italics indicate interim officeholder | ||