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Kim Chol-man

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In this Korean name, the family name is Kim.
Colonel General

Kim Chol-man
Born2 November 1920
Heianhoku-dō (South Pyongan Province), Korea, Empire of Japan
Died3 December 2018 (2018-12-04) (aged 98)
Pyongyang, North Korea
Allegiance North Korea
Service / branchKorean People's Army
Years of service1937–2018
RankColonel General
Battles / warsKorean War
AwardsHero of the Republic
Double Hero
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl
김철만
Hancha
金鐵萬
Revised RomanizationGim Cheolman
McCune–ReischauerKim Ch'ŏl Man

Kim Chol-man (Korean: 김철만; 2 November 1920 – 3 December 2018)[1] was a North Korean politician and military official. He was a member of several important committees and organizations, including the 6th Central Military Commission, the 6th Politburo, and the Second Economic Committee. He was at the forefront of the North Korean munitions industry, the country's economic base (see Songun). In old age Kim was no longer considered a major player in North Korean politics, having retired from most of his important posts.

Early life and education

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Kim was born in 1918 in South Pyongan Province. He is the brother-in-law of Han Tok-su, former chairman of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan.[1]

He was trained at the Frunze Military Academy in the Soviet Union, then known as the RKKA Military Academy.[1]

Military career

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Kim joined Kim Il Sung's United Army in 1937 along with other first-generation guerrilla leaders such as Ri Ul-sol and Kim Ik-hyon.[2]

Military career[1]
Position/rank Date promoted Unit
Colonel (sangjwa) 1945 Korean People's Army
Commanding Officer September 1948 25th Regiment, 12th Division, Korean People's Army
Major General (sojang) 1953 Korean People's Army
Commanding Officer April 1955 37th Division, Korean People's Army
Lieutenant General (chungjang) July 1962 Korean People's Army
Commanding Officer January 1965 2nd Army Corps, Korean People's Army
Deputy Chief of Staff February 1968 Korean People's Army
Colonel General (sangjang) February 1968 Korean People's Army
Senior Deputy Chief of Staff July 1970 Korean People's Army
Director-General (daejang) September 1988 Bureau of Supply and Maintenance, Korean People's Army

Kim saw action in the Korean War and suffered physical wounds.[2]

Kim also held many para-military posts. In 1964, he became the Director-General of the Strategy Bureau in the Ministry of People's Security. During this time, he was a central figure in the establishment of a unitary leadership and a collective principle system in North Korea, along with Kim Jong Il.[1] In October 1980 he was appointed a member of the powerful 6th Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea. In September 1998 he became a member of the National Defense Commission.[1] Kim led North Korea's munitions industry, the country's economic base, along with Korean Workers' Party Secretary Jon Pyong-ho.[2]

Political career

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In November 1967, as a member of the first generation of North Korean leadership, Kim was elected as an alternate member to the 6th Central Committee of the Korean Workers' Party. He was elevated to full member status in November 1970.[1] Kim's position was placed in danger following a 1969 purge of military officials, but survived untouched.[2] For a short period of time (October 1980 – September 1981) Kim was an alternate member of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea, the highest decision-making body of North Korea.[1]

Special positions he held include the Chair of the Second Economic Committee, and the funeral committees of both Kim Il Sung and O Jin-u.[1] The funeral committees are often seen as an indicator of de facto power.[3][4]

In old age, Kim was retired from many of his positions. During a reshuffle in 2003, which saw the removal of other members of the first generation of North Korean leadership such as Ri Ul-sol,[5][6] Kim was retired from the Second Economic Committee and the National Defense Commission.[7] He held on to membership in the Central Military Committee until September 2010.[7]

He was a delegate deputy to the 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th Supreme People's Assemblies.[1]

Awards

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Kim was the recipient of the Hero of the Republic and Double Hero awards in 1968 and 1992 respectively.[1]

Death

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Kim Chol-man died of bladder cancer on 3 December 2018 at the age of 98.[8] His funeral committee was chaired by Kim Jong Un and was composed of the following members:[9]

  1. Kim Jong Un
  2. Choe Ryong-hae
  3. Pak Pong-ju
  4. Yang Hyong-sop
  5. Ri Myong-su
  6. Ri Su-yong
  7. Kim Phyong-hae
  8. Thae Jong-su
  9. O Su-yong
  10. An Jong-su
  11. Kim Yong-chol
  12. Choe Pu-il
  13. Ro Tu-chol
  14. Choe Hwi
  15. Pak Thae-dok
  16. Kim Su-gil
  17. Ri Yong-gil
  18. No Kwang-chol
  19. Jong Kyong-thaek
  20. Im Chol-ung
  21. Jo Yon-jun
  22. Ri Man-gon
  23. Ri Pyong-chol
  24. Kim Nung-o
  25. Kim Tok-hun
  26. Ri Ju-o [ko]
  27. Ri Ryong-nam
  28. Tong Jong-ho
  29. Jon Kwang-ho
  30. Ko In-ho [ko]
  31. Kim Yong-dae
  32. Hwang Sun-hui
  33. Pak Kyong-suk
  34. Ri Yong-suk
  35. Ri Il-hwan
  36. Ri Chol-man
  37. Choe Tong-myong [ko]
  38. Ri Yong-rae
  39. Ryang Won-ho
  40. Pak To-chun
  41. Hong Sung-mu
  42. Hong Yong-chil
  43. Yu Jin
  44. Kang Pong-hun
  45. Kim Tu-il
  46. Mun Kyong-dok
  47. Pak Yong-ho [ko]
  48. Ryang Jong-hun
  49. Kim Jae-ryong
  50. Pak Jong-nam
  51. Ri Hi-yong
  52. Kim Song-il
  53. Ri Sang-won [ko]
  54. Kang Yang-mo [ko]
  55. Sin Yong-chol [ko]
  56. Jong Yong-guk [ko]
  57. Pak Chol-min [ko]
  58. Ju Yong-gil [ko]
  59. Kim Chang-yop [ko]
  60. Jang Chun-sil [ko]
  61. Jo Jun-mo
  62. So Hong-chan
  63. Son Chol-ju [ko]
  64. Jo Kyong-chol
  65. Ri Tu-song [ko]
  66. Yun Tong-hyon
  67. Kim Song-chol
  68. Ho Yong-chun
  69. Kim Hyong-ryong
  70. Ri Yong-ju
  71. O Kum-chol

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Kim Chol-man" (PDF). North Korean Leadership Watch. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d "Kim Chol-man". Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  3. ^ Hakoda, Tetsuya (27 December 2011). "All eyes set on Kim Jong Il's funeral committee list". The Asahi Shimbun. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  4. ^ "Clues from Kim Jong-il Funeral List". The Chosun Ilbo. 20 December 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  5. ^ Haggard, Stephan (24 July 2012). "Purges and Appointments I: What's Going On?". Peterson Institute for International Economics. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  6. ^ "N.Korea Purges Party, Military". The Chosun Ilbo. 5 February 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Kim Chol Man". North Korean Leadership Watch. 5 October 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  8. ^ "Kim Jong Un offers condolence over death WPK Central Committee member". United News of India. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  9. ^ "State Funeral Committee for Kim Chol Man Formed". KCNA. 4 December 2018.
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