| Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army | |
|---|---|
| 조선인민군 총참모장 | |
.svg) | |
_15_(cropped).jpg) IncumbentRi Yong-gil since 28 December 2022 | |
| Korean People's Army | |
| Reports to | Minister of Defence |
| Appointer | Supreme Commander |
| Formation | February 1948 |
| First holder | Colonel General Kang Kon |
| Deputy | Deputy Chief of the Korean People's Army |
| Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 조선인민군 총참모장 |
|---|---|
| Revised Romanization | Joseoninmingun Chongchammojang |
| McCune–Reischauer | Chosŏninmin'gun Ch'ongch'ammojang |
The General Staff Department (GSD) of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is the senior military leadership of the armed forces of North Korea responsible for its administrative, operational and logistical needs. The current Chief of the General Staff is Vice Marshal Ri Yong-gil.
Duties
The GSD is the principal administrative body of the KPA besides the Ministry of Defense, which gives it the authority to do the following:
- Plan the national defense policy for the KPA
- Assess threats to the sovereignty and security of the state
- Regulate the training, education, and organization of the KPA
Chiefs of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army
| No. | Portrait | Chief of the General Staff | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Defence branch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 | Kon, KangColonel General Kang Kon 강건 (1918–1950) | February 1948 | September 1950 | 2 years, 7 months |  Korean People's Army Ground Force |
| 2 |
 | Il, NamGeneral Nam Il 남일 (1915–1976) | September 1950 | August 1953 | 2 years, 11 months | Korean People's Army Ground Force |
| 3 |
 | Kwang-hyop, KimGeneral Kim Kwang-hyop 김광협 (1915–1970) | August 1953 | September 1957 | 4 years, 1 month | Korean People's Army Ground Force |
| 4 |
| Kwon-mu, LeeColonel General Lee Kwon-mu 리권무 (1914–1986?) | September 1957 | July 1959 | 1 year, 10 months | Korean People's Army Ground Force |
| 5 |
| Chang-bong, KimColonel General Kim Chang-bong 김창봉 | July 1959 | October 1962 | 3 years, 3 months | Korean People's Army Ground Force |
| 6 |
| Kwang, ChoeGeneral Choe Kwang 최광 (1918–1997) | October 1962 | December 1968 | 6 years, 2 months | Korean People's Army Ground Force |
| 7 |
| Jin-u, OGeneral O Jin-u 오진우 (1917–1995) | December 1968 | September 1979 | 10 years, 9 months | Korean People's Army Ground Force |
| 8 |
| Kuk-ryol, OGeneral O Kuk-ryol 오극렬 (1930–2023) | September 1979 | February 1988 | 8 years, 5 months | Korean People's Army Ground Force |
| (6) |
| Kwang, ChoeMarshal Choe Kwang 최광 (1918–1997) | February 1988 | October 1995 | 7 years, 8 months | Korean People's Army Ground Force |
| 9 |
| Yong-chun, KimVice Marshal Kim Yong-chun 김영춘 (1936–2018) | October 1995 | April 2007 | 11 years, 6 months | Korean People's Army Ground Force |
| 10 |
| Kyok-sik, KimGeneral Kim Kyok-sik 김격식 (1938–2015) | April 2007 | February 2009 | 1 year, 10 months | Korean People's Army Ground Force |
| 11 |
| Yong-ho, RiVice Marshal Ri Yong-ho 리영호 (1942–2012) | February 2009 | July 2012 | 3 years, 5 months | Korean People's Army Ground Force |
| 12 |
| Yong-chol, HyonVice Marshal Hyon Yong-chol 현영철 (1949–2015) | July 2012 | May 2013 | 10 months | Korean People's Army Ground Force |
| (10) |
| Kyok-sik, KimGeneral Kim Kyok-sik 김격식 (1938–2015) | May 2013 | August 2013 | 3 months | Korean People's Army Ground Force |
| 13 |
| Yong-gil, RiGeneral Ri Yong-gil 리영길 (born 1952) | August 2013 | January 2016 | 2 years, 6 months | Korean People's Army Ground Force |
| 14 |
| Myong-su, RiVice Marshal Ri Myong-su 리명수 (born 1934) | February 2016 | June 2018 | 2 years, 4 months | Korean People's Army Ground Force |
| (13) |
| Yong-gil, RiGeneral Ri Yong-gil 리영길 (born 1952) | 4 June 2018 | 6 September 2019 | 1 year, 3 months | Korean People's Army Ground Force |
| 15 |
| Jong-chon, PakMarshal Pak Jong-chon 박정천 | 6 September 2019 | 7 September 2021 | 2 years | Korean People's Army Ground Force |
| 16 |
| Kwang-il, RimGeneral Rim Kwang-il 림광일 (born 1965) | 7 September 2021 | 8 June 2022 | 9 months | Korean People's Army Ground Force |
| 17 |
| Thae-sop, RiGeneral Ri Thae-sop 리태섭 | 8 June 2022 | 28 December 2022 | 6 months | Korean People's Army Ground Force |
| 18 |
| Su-il, ParkGeneral Park Su-il 박수일 | 28 December 2022 | 10 August 2023 | 7 months | Korean People's Army Ground Force |
| (13) |
| Yong-gil, RiVice Marshal Ri Yong-gil 리영길 (born 1952) | 10 August 2023 | Incumbent | 1 year, 4 months | Korean People's Army Ground Force |
See also
References
- CNN "Kim Jong Un fires top general, orders North Korean military to 'gird for war'"
- The Guardian,"Kim Jong-un fires North Korea's top general and calls for weapons production boost"
- "DPRK appoints new chief of army general staff". China.org.cn. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
- "N. Korea's former armed forces minister posted as chief of KPA general staff". Sina. 22 May 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
- "North Korea 'executes' army chief of staff Ri Yong-gil". BBC. 10 February 2016.
- "조선로동당 중앙위원회 제8기 제6차전원회의 공보". KCNA Watch. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
External links
- VMar Ri Yong Ho, Gen. Kim Kyok Sik, Kim Yong Chun at the North Korea Leadership Watch
- Kim Jong-un promotes senior military officials
 Korean People's Army | |
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| Active forces | |
| Paramilitary and reserve forces | |
| Senior leadership | |
| History |
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| Commanders of the Korean People's Army | ||
|---|---|---|
| Commanders-in-Chief |
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| Ministry of Defence |
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| Chiefs of the General Staff |
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| Italics indicate interim officeholder | ||