Ri Yong-ho
| Ri Yong-ho | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 5, 1942 Tongchon, Kangwon, Korea |
| Died | Possibly July 2012 |
| Allegiance |  North Korea |
| Service/branch |  Korean People's Army |
| Years of service | 1959–2012 |
| Rank | Vice Marshal |
Vice Marshal Ri Yong-ho (Chosŏn'gŭl: 리영호; Hancha: 李英浩; MR: Ri Yŏngho; born 5 October 1942, possible death July 2012) is a former North Korean military officer, and was a member of the central presidium of the Workers' Party of Korea from September 2010 to July 2012.
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Early life and education [edit]
Born in Tongchon County, Kangwon Province on 5 October 1942, Ri Yong-ho joined the Korean People's Army in August 1959. He graduated from the Kim Il Sung Military University.
Career [edit]
After graduation, Ri Yong-ho worked as chief of staff of a division, director of the operations department of an army corps, head of a training center, vice-director of the operations department of the general staff, its deputy chief and head of a training center of the KPA. He was promoted to lieutenant general in 2002,[1] and he began to as commander of the Pyongyang Defence Command from 2003 to 2009. He became a rising star in 2003 as a result of his appointment as the head of the military unit guarding the capital city and the Kim family.[2]
He was appointed Chief of the General Staff of the KPA in February 2009.[3] He was elected a member of the Presidium of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea as well as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission at the Party Conference held on 28 September 2010. He was also promoted to Vice Marshal immediately before the Conference. Afterwards, he appeared jointly with Kim Jong-il on several occasions, and he gave the keynote speech during the military parade in October celebrating the WPK's 65th anniversary. In December 2011, he and leader Kim Jong-un led the funeral procession through the streets of Pyongyang after the death of Kim Jong Il. Ri led a parade on 25 April 2012, marking the 80th anniversary of the foundation of the North Korean military.
Dismissal and possible death [edit]
On 16 July 2012, North Korean state media reported Ri Yong-ho was relieved of all his Party duties, namely his Politburo Standing Committee membership, Politburo membership, and Party Central Military Commission vice-chairmanship, stating this move was due to unspecified illness.[4][5] A spokesman for the South Korean Ministry of Unification said the move was "very unusual".[4] The meeting at which his removal was announced was attended by the entire Politburo standing committee, Politburo members and candidate members, making ill health seem implausibly minor. Ri was replaced by Hyon Yong-chol in the role of the Chief of the General Staff.[6] On July 20, 2012, unconfirmed reports from North Korea alleged that Ri had died or been injured in a firefight with Political Bureau troops.[7][8]
Some reports suggest that this may mark a shift in power between the political leadership and the armed forces, with the political leadership in the ascendant.[8][9][10] In November 2012, news from China reported that Ri was under house arrest[11] and had been sentenced as counter-revolutionary.
References [edit]
- ^ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303612804577529640078908680.html
- ^ Ramstad, Evan (17 July 2012). "Pyongyang Repositions Military". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
- ^ "Profiles of Presidium and Members of Political Bureau", KCNA, 29 September 2010.
- ^ a b http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18851703
- ^ "North Korea Fires Army Chief Ri Yong Ho From All Posts"
- ^ KCNA: North Korea names Hyon Yong Chol as new military chief
- ^ http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/07/20/2012072000583.html
- ^ a b "Kim Jong-Un May Have Just Suppressed a Coup". The Atlantic Wire. July 20, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
- ^ "Exclusive: Kim plans economic change in North Korea". Reuters. July 20, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
- ^ Ryall, Julian (24 October 20121:55PM BST). "North Korean army minister 'executed with mortar round'". the Telegraph. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- ^ "Top 4 N.Korean Military Officials Fall Victim to Shakeup". Chosun Ilbo. Nov. 30, 2012 12:43 KST. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Kim Kyok-sik |
Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army 2009 – 2012 |
Succeeded by Hyon Yong-chol |
| Party political offices | ||
| New title | Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea 2010 – 2012 Served alongside: Kim Jong-un (2010–2012) Choe Ryong-hae (2012) |
Succeeded by Choe Ryong-hae Hyon Yong-chol |
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