Hyon Chol-hae
Hyon Chol-hae | |
---|---|
Vice director of the General Political Department | |
In office 1986–1995 | |
Supreme Leader | Kim Jong-il |
Personal details | |
Born | Kyongsong County, North Hamgyong, Chōsen, Japan | August 13, 1934
Died | May 19, 2022 Pyongyang, North Korea | (aged 87)
Political party | Workers' Party of Korea |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Rank | ![]() |
Hyon Chol-hae (Korean: 현철해; August 13, 1934 – May 19, 2022) was a North Korean military officer.
During the Korean War, Hyon served as Kim Il-sung's bodyguard, a role which gave him "a place in North Korea's revolutionary history". He was director of the General Logistics Department of the Korean People's Army from 1986 to 1995, when he was appointed deputy director of the General Political Department, becoming one of the most senior members of the North Korean military and political leadership. He was described as being in "close proximity" to Kim Jong-il, and as reporting directly to him. It had been suggested that, following the death of Kim Jong-il, he may have taken part in a military council leadership of the country.[1] He was transferred to director of the Standing Bureau of the National Defence Commission. He was a member of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea since 1991 until his death.
In April 2012, he received important promotions as Vice Marshal, member of the Workers Party of Korea's Politburo and Central Military Commission, first vice-minister of the People's Armed Forces and director of the army's General Logistics Department.
He was replaced as first vice-minister of defence by his own predecessor as logistics director Jon Chang-bok in May 2013.
On April 15, 2016, Hyon Chol-hae became the fifth person[2] to be promoted to the rank of Marshal of the Korean People's Army,[3] being one of the first two promotions of active duty officers after 21 years.
Death
Hyon died from multiple organ failure on May 19, 2022, at the age of 87, amid a COVID-19 outbreak.[4] He received a state funeral in which supreme leader Kim Jong-un personally bore his casket and placed dirt upon his grave at the Patriotic Martyrs' Cemetery.[5] On his funeral committee, chaired by Kim Jong-un, were:[6]
- Kim Jong-un
- Choe Ryong-hae
- Jo Yong-won
- Kim Tok-hun
- Pak Jong-chon
- Ri Pyong-chol
- Ri Il-hwan
- Jong Sang-hak
- O Su-yong
- Thae Hyong-chol
- Kim Jae-ryong
- Kim Yong-chol
- Jong Kyong-thaek
- Pak Jong-gun
- Rim Kwang-il
- O Il-jong
- Ho Chol-man
- Pak Thae-dok
- Kim Hyong-sik
- Yu Jin
- Pak Myong-sun
- Ri Chol-man
- Kim Song-nam
- Jon Hyon-chol
- Yang Sung-ho
- Ju Chol-gyu
- Ri Son-gwon
- Ri Thae-sop
- Kim Yong-hwan
- Kang Yun-sok
- Ri Song-hak
- Pak Hun
- Kim Song-ryong
- Pak Yong-il
- Ju Chang-il
- Ri Tu-song
- Kang Sun-nam
- Kim Pong-chol
- Ri Chang-song
- Kim Yong-gwang
- Pak Jong-nam
- Ri Hi-yong
- Kim Jo-guk
- Hong Sung-mu
- Jo Yong-chol
- Jang Kwang-myong
- Kim Tong-il
- Sin Ryong-man
- Mun Kyong-dok
- An Kum-chol
- Pak Chang-ho
- Pak Song-chol
- Kang Pong-hun
- Kim Su-gil
- Kim Chol-sam
- Ri Jong-nam
- Ri Thae-il
- Ri Jae-nam
- Sin Yong-chol
- Jang Yong-rok
- Ri Myong-su
- Choe Tu-yong
- Kim Jong-gwan
- Kwon Thae-yong
- Kim Song-gi
- Jo Kyong-chol
- Pak Yong-il
- Ri Chang-ho
- Ju Tong-chol
- Kim Kyong-ryong
- Sin Ki-chol
- Pang Tu-sop
- Yang Tong-hun
- Ri Tong-chun
- Kim Sang-gap
- im Kwang-hyok
- Ri Chol
- Kim Chol-gun
- Yun Pyong-gwon
- Jong Myong-do
- An Ji-yong
- Kim Yong-bok
- O Pyong-chol
- Kim To-un
- Jang Il-gon
- Choe Pae-sik
- Choe Kwon-sik
- Kim Myong-sik
- im Kwang-hyok
- Kim Jong-gil
- Pak Su-il
- Ryo Chol-ung
- Pak Kwang-ju
- Choe Kil-ryong
- Ri Pong-chun
- Choe Kwang-il
- Ri Kyong-chol
- Choe Chun-gil
- Kim Hak-chol
- Song Yong-gon
- Ko Myong-su
- Ko In-chol
- Song Sok-won
- Ki Yong-jun
- Kim Jong-chol
- Kim Chol-hi
- Hong Chol-ung
- O Jong-su
- Kim Song-chol
- Kim Chang-guk
- Om Ju-ho
- Ri Yong-chol
- Kim Pong-ho
- Pak Yong-gwan
- Yu Kwang-u
- An Yong-sik
- Ham Hyo-sik
- Kim Yong-ul
- Han Myong-son
- Kim Chol-nam
- Kim Kyong-hun
- Han Phyo-sop
- Ri Hong-gwang
- Hwang Chol-ju
- Rim Tae-song
- Ri Song-min
- Ri Jong-son
- Jong Chol-ho
- Jong Kyong-il
- Jong Tong-chol
- Kim Kwang-il
- Kwak Chang-sik
- So Hong-chan
- Kim Pok-nam
- Rim Yong-chol
- Sim Hong-bin
- Choe Kwang-jun
- Ri Song-ryol
- Kim Yong-ho
- Rim Kwang-ung
- Pak Thae-song
- Kim Yong-nam
- Ko Kil-son
- O Tong-il
- Song Ki-chol
- Jang Ki-ho
- Kim Yu-il
- Jon Hak-chol
- Kim Chung-gol
- Ma Jong-son
- Jang Chun-song
- Kang Jong-gwan
- Kim Chol-su
- Han Ryong-guk
- Kim Jong-nam
- Wang Chang-uk
- Ju Yong-il
- So Jong-jin
- Ri Hyok-gwon
- Song Chun-sop
- Ri Chung-gil
- Kim Sung-jin
- Im Kyong-jae
- Kim Sung-du
- Kim Il-guk
- Chae Song-hak
- Ri Chol-san
- Kim Kum-chol
- Cha Myong-nam
- Kim Chung-song
- Kim Kwang-il
- Jang Kyong-il
- Im Hak-won
- Ko Jong-bom
- Yun Jong-ho
- Kim Song-jun
- Pak Hyok-chol
- Choe Kyong-chol
- Sung Jong-gyu
- Kang Kwon-il
- Mun Chol
- Pak In-chol
- Han Jong-hyok
- Kim Jong-sun
References
- ^ "Who will succeed N Korea's Kim Jong-il?", BBC, January 16, 2009
- ^ Tertitskiy, Fyodor (March 27, 2020). "Why Kim Jong Un likely won't be appointing any new Vice-Marshals any time soon". NK News.
- ^ "Gen. Hyon Chol Hae". North Korea Leadership Watch. February 24, 2018.
- ^ 고 현철해동지의 국가장의위원회에서. Korean Central News Agency. May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
- ^ Kim, Hyung-jin (May 22, 2022). "Kim, other N. Koreans attend large funeral amid COVID worry". Associated Press. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
- ^ "State Funeral Committee for Hyon Chol Hae Formed". Korean Central News Agency. May 20, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022 – via KCNA Watch.
- 1934 births
- 2022 deaths
- Deaths from multiple organ failure
- North Korean generals
- Members of the 6th Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea
- Members of the 6th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
- Alternate members of the 6th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
- People from Kyongwon County
- People from North Hamgyong
- Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in North Korea
- Asian military personnel stubs
- North Korean people stubs