Hyon Chol-hae

Marshal
Hyon Chol-hae
Marshal Hyon Chol-hae
Vice director of the General Political Department
	In office; 1986–1995
Supreme Leader	Kim Jong-il
Personal details
Born	August 13, 1934; Kyongsong County, North Hamgyong, Chōsen, Japan
Died	May 19, 2022 (aged 87); Pyongyang, North Korea
Political party	Workers' Party of Korea
Military service
Allegiance	North Korea
Rank	Marshal of the Korean People's Army

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]

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.

This biographical article about the military of North Korea is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[1] "Who will succeed N Korea's Kim Jong-il?", BBC, January 16, 2009

[2] Tertitskiy, Fyodor (March 27, 2020). "Why Kim Jong Un likely won't be appointing any new Vice-Marshals any time soon". NK News.

[3] "Gen. Hyon Chol Hae". North Korea Leadership Watch. February 24, 2018.

[4] 고 현철해동지의 국가장의위원회에서. Korean Central News Agency. May 20, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.

[5] Kim, Hyung-jin (May 22, 2022). "Kim, other N. Koreans attend large funeral amid COVID worry". Associated Press. Retrieved May 25, 2022.

[6] "State Funeral Committee for Hyon Chol Hae Formed". Korean Central News Agency. May 20, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022 – via KCNA Watch.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

v t e Marshals of North Korea
Generalissimos of the DPRK	Kim Il Sung Kim Jong Il Kim Jong Un
Marshals of the Korean People's Army	O Jin-u Choe Kwang Ri Ul-sol Kim Yong-chun Hyon Chol-hae Ri Pyong-chol Pak Jong-chon
Vice-Marshals of the Korean People's Army	Choe Yong-gon Ju To-il Choe In-dok Paek Hak-rim Ri Tu-ik Kim Pong-ryul Kim Kwang-jin Kim Ik-hyon Jo Myong-rok Ri Ha-il Kim Il-chol Jon Jae-son Pak Ki-so Ri Jong-san Kim Ryong-yon Ri Yong-mu Jang Song-u Ri Yong-ho Kim Jong-gak Choe Ryong-hae Hyon Yong-chol Hwang Pyong-so Ri Myong-su Kim Jong-gwan Kwon Yong-jin Ri Yong-gil
Category:North Korean generals