Kim Jong-gak

In thisKorean name,the family name isKim.

Kim Jong-gak
김정각
Minister of People's Armed Forces
In office 2012–2012
Supreme Leader	Kim Jong Un
Preceded by	Kim Yong-Chun
Succeeded by	Kim Kyok-sik
Director of theKPA General Political Bureau
In office 2018–2018
Supreme Leader	Kim Jong Un
Preceded by	Hwang Pyong-so
Succeeded by	Kim Su-gil
Personal details
Born	(1941-07-20)20 July 1941 Heian'nan-dō,Korea, Empire of Japan(nowSouth Pyongan,North Korea)
Political party	Workers’ Party of Korea
Military service
Allegiance	North Korea
Branch/service	Korean People's Army
Rank	Ch'asu(Vice Marshal)

Kim Jong-gak(Korean:김정각;Hancha:Kim chính các;born 20 July 1941)is aKorean People's Army(KPA) official. He was a member of thePolitburo of the Workers' Party of Korea(WPK). He served asMinister of Defencebriefly in 2012,and Director of theGeneral Political Bureau of the KPAin 2018.

Biography

Kim Jong-gak was born inJungsan County,South Phyongan Provinceon 20 July 1941, and joined theKorean People's Armyin August 1959.He graduated from theKim Il Sung Military Universityand later served in a number of capacities such asbattalioncommander, deputy commander of an army corps, chief of staff and head of a training center. He joined the Party leadership in December 1991, when he was appointed an alternate member of theWPK Central Committeeat the 19th Plenary Meeting of the6th Central Committee.In 1992 his duties grew again: in April, duringKim Il Sung's 80th birthday, he was promoted tocolonel-general,and in December he was appointed vice-minister of the People's Armed Forces.

Since then, Kim Jong-gak's role grew. He was appointed administrator of the KPA's parades and performances inPyongyang,elected deputy to theSupreme People's Assemblystarting from 1998, and promoted to general in April 2002. He was also put in charge of representing the KPA during receptions for foreignmilitary attaches.In October 2006, he gave the keynote speech to a Pyongyang rally supporting 9 October nuclear testing. In 2007, he was appointed first vice-director of theKPA General Political Bureau;starting from that year, he frequently accompaniedKim Jong Ilin his inspection tours. In August 2008, he gave the keynote speech during a meeting celebrating the anniversary of "Kim Jong-il'sSongunleadership ". At the opening of the 12th Supreme People's Assembly in 2009, he was elected to the newly expandedNational Defence Commission.In September 2010, at the 3rd Party Conference, he was promoted to Politburo alternate member andCentral Military Commissionmember.

General Kim Jong-gak was seen as one of the next generations of KPA leaders, along with Chief of General StaffRi Yong-ho,as well as a key asset toKim Jong Un's rise to power.He is also supposedly linked toJang Song-thaek,Kim Jong Il's brother-in-law; notably, both of them were removed from limelight in 2003–2005, and were promoted to high positions in 2007. Kim Jong-gak's supposed part in ensuring the succession was enhanced in May 2010, when he presided over a military ceremony unveiling bronze statues of Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, andKim Jong-suk.In April 2011, theSouth KoreannewspaperChoson Ilbosaid that Kim Jong-gak was working directly under Kim Jong Un.AfterJo Myong-rok's death in November 2010 left the post of KPA General Political Bureau director vacant, Kim Jong-gak probably worked as its acting chief untilChoe Ryong-haewas appointed to fill the post in April 2012.

After Kim Jong Il's death, on 15 February 2012, he was promoted toVice Marshal;on 19 February, he wrote an article forRodong Sinmunswearing an oath of "unwavering faith" toSupreme CommanderKim Jong Un.On 10 April, in the wake of the controversialKwangmyongsong-3launch, he was appointedMinister of People's Armed Forces(defence minister), replacingKim Yong-Chun.He was replaced byKim Kyok-sikon 29 November 2012.Despite the latter's appointment, which was not reported by state media and confirmed only on 28 December as he was listed as defence minister at a reception for foreign military attache corps, Kim Jong-gak remained a member of the top leadership until 31 March 2013, when he was removed from the WPK Politburo and the National Defence Commission. He then held a minor position under the Kim Il Sung Military University as dean of its graduate school.

On 9 February 2018,North Korean mediaconfirmed that Kim had replacedHwang Pyong-soas the Director of theGeneral Political Bureauof the KPA and was given back his party Politburo seat.In May, after a mere four months, he was in turn replaced byKim Su-gil.

Awards and honors

Kim could be seen wearing multiple decorations during a visit from a Cuban delegation.

Order of Kim Il Sung

Order of Kim Jong Il

Order of the National Flag First Class,five times

Order of Freedom and Independence First Class,twice

Order of Korean Labour, twice

Commemorative Order "Foundation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea"

Commemorative Order "Anniversary of the Foundation of the People's Army"

Order of Military Service Honour First Class, twice

Commemorative Order "30th Anniversary of the Agricultural Presentation"

Order of the National Flag Second Class, three times

Order of the Red Banner of Three Great Revolutions

Order of the National Flag Third Class

Soldier's Medal of Honour Second Class,twice

Commemorative Medal "Fatherland Liberation"

Commemorative Medal "The Foundation of the People's Republic of Korea"

Medal For Military Merit, three times

Commemorative Medal "Pyongyang-Nampho Highway Construction"

Commemorative Medal "Military Parade", three times

See also

• Korean People's Army
• Jo Myong-rok