Pak Song-chol


Pak Song-chol or Park Sung-chul was a North Korean politician who served as Premier of North Korea from 1976 to 1977. He succeeded Kim Il. He also served as foreign minister from 1959 to 1970.

Biography

Born in Gyeongju, Keishō-hoku Prefecture during the Japanese rule. Dropped out of Sophia University in Japan. While studying abroad, he joined the Japanese Communist Party. Participated in Anti-Japan Partisan in Manchuria in April 1934. In 1936, youth member of the 1st corps of the 5th Army of the Tohoku Anti-Japanese Union. During the period, he was described as an extremely loyal and courageous youth member. In 1937, the second army 4th teacher 1st group. 1942, 1st platoon, 1st battalion, 1st battalion, 88th independent sniper brigade where he met Kim Il-sung.
In the spring of 1942, as a Soviet military reconnaissance officer, he was given the task of following the deployment situation of Japanese troops at the border. It should be a mission that ends in a week, but he did not return until autumn, during which he sent important information over radio signals.

North Korea

In 1948 Chief of Staff of the 3rd Division of the Korean People's Army . In 1950, he became the 15th division Commander and participated in the Korean War. In September 1953 he was appointed Director of the Ministry of National Guard and Scouting. After that, he moved to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and from August 1954, he served as envoy to the People's Republic of Bulgaria, and in May 1955 the ambassador. August 1956, International Director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, Deputy Foreign Minister since October of the same year, and Foreign Minister in October 1959, until he retired in July 1970. During this time, in 1966 he also served as the Deputy Premier in the Cabinet of North Korea.
In 1972, as deputy premier, he secretly visited Seoul in the lead-up to the Joint Statement on reunification.
He was appointed as Vice President by the Supreme People's Assembly in December 1977 and he left the office in October 1997. His last public appearance was in September 2003 in the viewing box at the 55th-anniversary commemoration inspection ceremonies in North Korea. He was one of the oldest former heads of government in the world.

Death and funeral

Pak died on 28 October 2008. A funeral committee was appointed with Kim Yong-nam as the chairman. Its members were:
  1. Kim Yong-nam
  2. Jo Myong-rok
  3. Kim Yong-il
  4. Kim Yong-chun
  5. Ri Yong-mu
  6. Kim Kyok-sik
  7. Kim Il-chol
  8. Jon Pyong-ho
  9. Choe Thae-bok
  10. Yang Hyong-sop
  11. Kim Kuk-thae
  12. Kim Jung-rin
  13. Kim Ki-nam
  14. Choe Yong-rim
  15. Kim Jong-gak
  16. Kwak Pom-gi
  17. Ro Tu-chol
  18. Jon Sung-hun
  19. Thae Jong-su
  20. Kim Yong-dae
  21. Ryu Mi-yong
  22. Kim Yong-ju
  23. Ri Ul-sol
  24. Kim Chol-man
  25. Kim Ik-hyon
  26. Ri Jong-san
  27. Pak Ki-so
  28. Ri Ha-il
  29. Jon Jae-son
  30. Kang Yong-sop
  31. Hong Sok-hyong
  32. Ri Kwang-ho
  33. Kang Chang-uk
  34. Pyon Yong-rip
  35. Thae Hyong-chol
  36. Jang Song-thaek
  37. Pak Nam-gi
  38. Kim Song-kyu
  39. Kim Yang-kon
  40. Kang Kwan-chu
  41. O Kuk-ryol
  42. Choe Hui-jong
  43. Ju Sang-song
  44. Jong Thae-kun
  45. Jong Chang-ryol
  46. Pak Jae-gyong
  47. Kim Sang-ik
  48. Kim Thaek-ku
  49. Yun Jong-rin
  50. Kim Yang-chom
  51. Pak Ui-chun
  52. Ri Kil-song
  53. Kim Pyong-ryul
  54. Ri Yong-chol
  55. Kim Pyong-pal
  56. Ro Song-sil
  57. Kim Yong-ho
  58. Jon Kil-su
  59. Ra Tong-hui
  60. Ri Kyong-sik
  61. Ri Chu-o
  62. Ri Ryong-nam
  63. Kim Pong-chol
  64. Kim Yong-jin
  65. Mun Jae-chol

    Works