Kim Chol-man


Kim Chol-man was a North Korean politician and military official. He was a member of several important committees and organizations, including the Central Military Commission, the Politburo, and the Second Economic Committee. He was at the forefront of the North Korean munitions industry, the country's economic base. 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

Kim was born in 1920 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.
He was trained at the Frunze Military Academy in the Soviet Union, then known as the RKKA Military Academy.

Military career

Kim joined Kim Il-sung's United Army in 1937 along with other first-generation leaders such as Ri Ul-sol and Kim Ik-hyon.
Position/rankDate promotedUnit
Colonel 1945Korean People's Army
Commanding OfficerSeptember 194825th Regiment, 12th Division, Korean People's Army
Major General 1953Korean People's Army
Commanding OfficerApril 195537th Division, Korean People's Army
Lieutenant General July 1962Korean People's Army
Commanding OfficerJanuary 19652nd Army Corps, Korean People's Army
Deputy Chief of StaffFebruary 1968Korean People's Army
Colonel General February 1968Korean People's Army
Senior Deputy Chief of StaffJuly 1970Korean People's Army
Director-General September 1988Bureau of Supply and Maintenance, Korean People's Army

Kim saw action in the Korean War and suffered physical wounds.
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. In October 1980 he was appointed a member of the powerful Central Military Commission of the Korean Workers' Party. In September 1998 he became a member of the National Defense Commission. Kim lead North Korea's munitions industry, the country's economic base, along with Korean Workers' Party Secretary Jon Pyong-ho.

Political career

In November 1967, as a member of the first generation of North Korean leadership, Kim was elected as an alternate member to the Central Committee of the Korean Workers' Party. He was elevated to full member status in November 1970. Kim's position was placed in danger following a 1969 purge of military officials, but survived untouched. For a short period of time Kim was an alternate member of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea, the highest decision-making body of North Korea.
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. The funeral committees are often seen as an indicator of de facto power.
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, Kim was retired from the Second Economic Committee and the National Defense Commission. He held on to membership in the Central Military Committee until September 2010.
He was a delegate deputy to the 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th Supreme People's Assemblies.

Awards

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

Death

Kim Chol-man died of bladder cancer on 3 December 2018 at the age of 98. His funeral committee was chaired by Kim Jong-un and was composed of the following members:
  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
  27. Ri Ryong-nam
  28. Tong Jong-ho
  29. Jon Kwang-ho
  31. Kim Yong-dae
  32. Hwang Sun-hui
  33. Pak Kyong-suk
  34. Ri Yong-suk
  35. Ri Il-hwan
  36. Ri Chol-man
  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
  48. Ryang Jong-hun
  49. Kim Jae-ryong
  50. Pak Jong-nam
  51. Ri Hi-yong
  52. Kim Song-il
  61. Jo Jun-mo
  62. So Hong-chan
  66. Yun Tong-hyon
  67. Kim Song-chol
  68. Ho Yong-chun
  69. Kim Hyong-ryong
  70. Ri Yong-ju
  71. O Kum-chol