Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army

File:KPA Supreme Commander flag.jpg

Flag of Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army

Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army
Chosŏn'gŭl	조선인민군 최고사령관
Hancha	朝鮮人民軍最高司令官
McCune–Reischauer	Chosŏn Inmin'gun Ch'oego Saryŏnggwan
Revised Romanization	Joseon Inmin-gun Choego Saryeonggwan

North Korea

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of North Korea

Constitution Constitution Juche Idea Songun Policy Eternal President Kim Il-sung Government Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un National Defence Commission Chairman TBD Premier (List) Choe Yong-rim Korean People's Army Supreme Commander Kim Jong-un Political parties Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee General Secretary Kim Jong-un Central Military Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland Korean Social Democratic Party Chondoist Chongu Party People's Assembly Chairman of the Presidium Kim Yong-nam Elections 2003 2009 Judiciary Judiciary Subdivisions Subdivisions Related topics Korean reunification Human rights Foreign relations

Other countries · Atlas Politics portal

The Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army is the highest post of command of the Korean People's Army, the army of North Korea and is in charge of one of the largest standing armies in the world with around 5.9 million active duty personnel and reserves.

History

The position was created after the outbreak of the Korean War. It was an emergency mechanism that gave Kim Il Sung with full control and command of DPRK armed forces as the war unfolded. From 1972 to 1991 Kim Il Sung served as KPA Supreme Commander concurrently to being DPRK President (i.e. head of state). On 24 December 1991, Kim Jong Il was elected KPA Supreme Commander during the 19th plenary meeting of the 6th KWP Central Committee. The day after his election, on 25 December, the KPA General Political Department (also known as the General Political Bureau) convened a meeting of KPA political officers and cadres. At the end of the meeting, they swore a loyalty oath to Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, who were in attendance.

Kim Jong-il was succeeded by his son Kim Jong-un, who was publicly declared Supreme Commander by the Rodong Sinmun, on 24 December 2011 and officially appointed to the position on 30 December 2011.

Role

The KPA Supreme Commander (Choson inmin’gun ch’oego) serves as the leading official (i.e. commander-in-chief) of the Korean People’s Army (KPA). The supreme commander can declare a state of emergency or war and issue instructions and commands in support of such a declaration. During a state of emergency or war, the Supreme Commander commands all of the DPRK’s ground, naval, air and special forces. The supreme commander also establishes direct authority and command over the KPA’s other security organizations (typically controlled by the party) such as the Ministry of State Security, Ministry of People’s Security, the Guard Command and Pyongyang Defense Command as well as the country’s civilian reserve forces who serve in the Reserve Military Training Units and Worker-Peasants’ Red Guards.

The KPA Supreme Commander also can promote officers with the rank of general or higher, as well as those holding the position of division vice-commander or higher. In addition to that the KPA Supreme Command directs and guides the winter and spring training cycles of the KPA. The supreme command issues orders through the 10th office of the KPA General Staff Operations Bureau; during contingency or war, the supreme commander bypasses the formal chain of command and issues orders and instructions through the Operations Bureau’s 10th office. The position is intended to bypass the collective control over security organizations by the Workers' Party of Korea and allow the supreme commander to exercise single guidance.