Ministry of People's Armed Forces
Agency overview | |
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Jurisdiction |
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Headquarters |
Pyongyang 39°3′39″N 125°44′20″E / 39.06083°N 125.73889°ECoordinates: 39°3′39″N 125°44′20″E / 39.06083°N 125.73889°E |
Minister responsible | |
Parent agency | State Affairs Commission |
Ministry of People's Armed Forces | |
Chosŏn'gŭl | 인민무력부 |
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Revised Romanization | Inminmuryeokbu |
McCune–Reischauer | Inminmuryŏkpu |
The Ministry of People's Armed Forces (MPAF, Chosŏn'gŭl: 인민무력부; MR: Inminmuryŏkpu) is the government agency tasked with general administrative and logistical coordination of the Korean People's Army (KPA). Prior to 1992, it was under the direct control of the president, with guidance from the National Defence Commission and the Workers' Party of Korea Military Affairs Department. The 1992 state constitution shifts its control to the National Defence Commission. The 2016 state constitution revision shifted its control to the State Affairs Commission. The current Minister of People's Armed Forces is No Kwang-chol, who was appointed to the post in June 2018.[1]
Until December 1972, the Minister of the People's Armed Forces was called the Minister of National Defence (민족보위상).[2]
Duties
The Ministry of People’s Armed Forces is essentially an umbrella agency gathering the KPA's logistical, political, and personnel components. The ministry also has departments which coordinate relations with foreign militaries, as well as regulating Government-owned corporations related to the defence industry and other foreign currency earning ventures. The ministry, through the General Staff Department is responsible for the daily operational planning and management of the KPA's ground, naval, and air commands. It develops strategy, conducts education and training, conveys the orders and guidance of the KPA Supreme Command and completes certain signals intelligence tasks.
Departments
The Ministry of People's Armed Forces contains the following departments:[3]
- General Political Bureau
- General Staff Department
- Security Command
Both the Director of the General Political Bureau and Chief of the General Staff have more power than the Minister.
Ministers of People's Armed Forces
Minister of People's Armed Forces | |
Chosŏn'gŭl | 인민무력부장 |
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Revised Romanization | Inminmuryeokbujang |
McCune–Reischauer | Inminmuryŏkpujang |
№ | Minister | Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Vice Marshal Choe Yong-gon 최용건 (1900–1976) | September 1948 | September 1957 | 9 years | ||
2 | General Kim Kwang-hyop 김광협 (1915–1970) | September 1957 | October 1962 | 5 years, 1 month | ||
3 | Kim Chang-bong 김창봉 | GeneralOctober 1962 | December 1968 | 6 years, 2 months | ||
4 | Choe Hyon 최현 (1907–1982) | GeneralDecember 1968 | May 1976 | 7 years, 5 months | ||
5 | Marshal O Jin-u 오진우 (1917–1995) | May 1976 | February 1995 | 18 years, 9 months | ||
6 | Choe Kwang 최광 (1918–1997) | MarshalOctober 1995 | February 1997 | 1 year, 4 months | ||
7 | Kim Il-chol 김일철 (born 1933) | Vice MarshalFebruary 1997 | February 2009 | 12 years | ||
8 | Kim Yong-chun 김영춘 (1936–2018) | Vice MarshalFebruary 2009 | April 2012 | 3 years, 2 months | ||
9 | Kim Jong-gak 김정각 (born 1941) | Vice MarshalApril 2012 | November 2012 | 7 months | ||
10 | Kim Kyok-sik 김격식 (1938–2015) | GeneralNovember 2012 | May 2013 | 6 months | ||
11 | Jang Jong-nam 장정남 | GeneralMay 2013 | June 2014 | 1 year, 1 month | ||
12 | Hyon Yong-chol 현영철 (1949–2015) | GeneralJune 2014 | 12 May 2015 | 10 months | ||
Unknown (12 May 2015 – 11 July 2015) | ||||||
13 | Pak Yong-sik 박영식 (born 1950) | General11 July 2015 | 4 June 2018 | 2 years, 10 months | ||
14 | No Kwang-chol 한국어 (born 1956) | General4 June 2018 | Incumbent | days | 136
See also
References
- ↑ Haas, Benjamin (4 June 2018). "North Korea sacks top three military officials, as nuclear summit nears". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- ↑ Tertitskiy, Fyodor (7 February 2018). "The unusual history of North Korea's military foundation day". NK News. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
- ↑ Worden, Robert L., ed. (2008). North Korea: A Country Study. Library of Congress, Federal Research Division. p. 242. ISBN 9780160814228.