Jo Myong-rok


Jo Myong-rok was a North Korean military officer who held the military rank Chasu. In 1998, he was appointed First Vice-Chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea, Director of the Korean People's Army General Political Bureau. Previously, he was the commander of the air defence forces.

Life and career

Jo was born in Yonsa County, North Hamgyong province, on 12 July 1928 and he joined the Korean People's Army in December 1950. He was a graduate of the Manchuria Aviation School and Soviet Air Academy.
After serving as a pilot in the Korean War, Jo was promoted to major general in 1954 and lieutenant general in 1976. Meanwhile, he held other important posts, such as commanding officer of Pyongyang's Air Defence Command, and commanding officer of the KPA Air Force from 1977 to 1995. At the 6th Party Congress in 1980, Jo Myong-rok was elected both member of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and its Military Commission. In the 1990s, he saw a huge increase of his importance: in 1992 he was promoted to general; in 1994 he was part of Kim Il-sung's funeral committee; in 1995 he was promoted to Vice Marshal and director of the KPA General Political Bureau.
He made a key speech commemorating the third anniversary of Kim Il-sung's death in special ceremonies on 8 July 1997. By 1998, when he was also appointed to the position of First Vice Chairman of the National Defence Commission, he was the second most powerful person in the country, ranking immediately beneath Kim Jong-il himself. In 2000, he traveled to Washington, D.C. on a goodwill mission.

Death

On 6 November 2010, Jo died of a heart attack at the age of 82, one month after he was elected as member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau. His funeral committee was chaired by Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un. He was lying in state in the Central Workers' Hall in Pyongyang before buried in the Patriotic Martyrs' Cemetery.
Against expectations, his successor was not elected at the 4th Session of the 12th Supreme People's Assembly in April 2011. There was speculation that Kim Jong-il was deliberately leaving the post vacant in order to promote his son, Kim Jong-un, when he was ready.

Funeral committee members

Jo's funeral committee consisted of:
  1. Kim Jong-il
  2. Kim Jong-un
  3. Kim Yong-nam
  4. Choe Yong-rim
  5. Ri Yong-ho
  6. Kim Yong-chun
  7. Jon Pyong-ho
  8. Kim Kuk-thae
  9. Kim Ki-nam
  10. Choe Thae-bok
  11. Yang Hyong-sop
  12. Kang Sok-ju
  13. Pyon Yong-rip
  14. Ri Yong-mu
  15. Ju Sang-song
  16. Hong Sok-hyong
  17. Kim Kyong-hui
  18. Kim Yang-gon
  19. Kim Yong-il
  20. Pak To-chun
  21. Choe Ryong-hae
  22. Jang Song-thaek
  23. Ju Kyu-chang
  24. Ri Thae-nam
  25. Kim Rak-hui
  26. Thae Jong-su
  27. Kim Phyong-hae
  28. U Tong-chuk
  29. Kim Jong-gak
  31. Kim Chang-sop
  32. Mun Kyong-dok
  33. Kim Myong-guk
  34. Kim Kyong-ok
  35. Kim Won-hong
  36. Jong Myong-do
  37. Ri Pyong-chol
  38. Choe Pu-il
  39. Kim Yong-chol
  40. Yun Jong-rin
  41. Choe Sang-ryo
  42. Choe Kyong-song
  43. O Kuk-ryol
  44. Paek Se-bong
  45. Hyon Chol-hae
  46. Ri Myong-su
  47. Kim Chol-man
  48. Ri Ul-sol
  49. Ri Jong-san
  50. Jon Jae-son
  51. Ri Ha-il
  52. Jong Chang-ryol
  53. Kim Yun-sim
  54. Han Tong-gun
  55. Jo Kyong-chol
  56. Pak Jae-gyong
  57. Pyon In-son
  58. Kim U-ho
  59. Kim Thaek-ku
  60. Choe Se-kwan
  61. Jong Ho-kyun
  62. Jon Chang-bok
  63. O Kum-chol
  64. Kim Myong-hwan
  65. Kim Chol
  66. Kim Su-hak
  67. Kim In-sik
  68. Sim Sang-dae
  69. Tong Yong-il
  70. Ri Pyong-sam
  71. Kim Song-dok
  72. Ri Chang-han
  73. Ro Hung-se
  74. Ri Tu-song
  75. Im Jong-chun
  76. Kang Phyo-yong
  77. Kim Hyong-ryong
  78. Kim Kyok-sik
  79. Ri Yong-hwan
  80. Kim Chun-sam
  81. Ri Yong-gil
  82. Han Chang-sun
  83. Hyon Yong-chol
  84. Yang Tong-hun
  85. Ri Pong-juk
  86. Pak Sung-won
  87. Ri Chun-il
  88. Ri Thae-sop
  89. Kim Song-chol
  90. Jo Song-hwan
  91. Pak Kwang-chol
  92. Yun Kyong-so
  93. Yang In-guk
  94. Ri Hi-su
  95. Ri Chol
  96. O Chol-san
  97. Son Chong-nam
  98. Hwang Hong-sik
  99. Kang Phil-hun
  100. Kim Chang-su
  101. Ri Yong-min
  102. Pak Yong-rae
  103. Pak Yong-sik
  104. Kim Su-gil
  105. Rim Jong-hwan
  106. Kim Kyong-chan
  107. Kim Tong-hwa
  108. Choe Jae-bok
  109. Kim Yong-nam
  110. Ri Jong-rae
  111. Ju Tong-chol
  112. Kim Sung-guk
  113. Ju Sung-nam
  114. Jong Un-hak
  115. Cha Myong-song
  116. Hyon Pyong-mu
  117. Kim To-un
  118. Ri Sung-ho
  119. Pang Chun-san
  120. Son Chol-ju
  121. Jon Ha-chol
  122. Ro Tu-chol
  123. Pak Su-gil
  124. Jo Pyong-ju
  125. Han Kwang-bok
  126. Kim Yong-dae
  127. Ryu Mi-yong
  128. Ri Yong-su
  129. Choe Hui-jong
  130. O Il-jong
  131. Kim Jong-im
  132. Chae Hui-jong
  133. Ri Jae-il
  134. Ri Ryong-ha
  135. Pak Pong-ju
  136. Jon Il-chun
  137. Kim Tong-il
  138. Han Kwang-sang
  139. Jong Myong-hak
  140. Kim Tong-i
  141. Hong In-pom
  142. Kang Yang-mo
  143. Ri Man-gon
  144. Ro Pae-kwon
  145. Pak Thae-dok
  146. Ju Yong-sik
  147. O Su-yong
  148. Kwak Pom-ki
  149. Kim Hi-thaek
  150. Rim Kyong-man
  151. Paek Kye-ryong
  152. Pak Ui-chun
  153. Kim Hyong-sik
  154. Kim Thae-bong
  155. Jon Kil-su
  156. Ri Mu-yong
  157. An Jong-su
  158. Ri Ryong-nam
  159. Kim Yong-chin
  160. Ryu Yong-sop
  161. Pak Myong-chol
  162. Jang Chol
  163. Kim Ki-ryong
  164. Kim Pyong-ho
  165. Cha Sung-su
  166. Kim Jong-suk
  167. Ri Yong-chol
  168. Kim Pyong-ryul
  169. Jang Pyong-kyu
  170. Ryang Man-gil
  171. Song Cha-rip