Ri Yong-ho
Encyclopedia
Vice Marshal
Ri Yong-ho (Korean
: 리영호, Hanja
: 李英鎬) (born October 5, 1942) is a North Korea
n military officer, and member of the central presidium of the Workers' Party of Korea
since September 2010.
Born in Tongchon
County, Kangwon Province, he joined the Korean People's Army
in August 1959.
After graduation from the Kim Il Sung Military University, he worked as chief of staff of a division, director of the operations department of an army corps, head of a training center, vice-director of the operations department of the general staff, its deputy chief and head of a training center of the KPA.
He was promoted to Major General
in April 2002, and afterwards he served as commander of the Pyongyang
Defence Command from 2003 to 2009.
He was appointed Chief of General Staff of the KPA in February 2009.
He was elected a member of the Presidium of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
as well as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission
at the Party Conference held on September 28, 2010. He was also promoted to Vice Marshal immediately before the Conference. Afterwards, he appeared jointly with Kim Jong-il
on several occasions, and he gave the keynote speech during the military parade in October celebrating the WPK's 65th anniversary.
Chasu
Chasu is a superior military rank of North Korea, often translated as Vice-Marshal. The rank is senior to that of Daejang and junior to that of Wonsu...
Ri Yong-ho (Korean
Korean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
: 리영호, Hanja
Hanja
Hanja is the Korean name for the Chinese characters hanzi. More specifically, it refers to those Chinese characters borrowed from Chinese and incorporated into the Korean language with Korean pronunciation...
: 李英鎬) (born October 5, 1942) is a North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
n military officer, and member of the central presidium of the Workers' Party of Korea
Workers' Party of Korea
The Workers' Party of Korea is the ruling Communist party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea. It is also called the Korean Workers' Party...
since September 2010.
Born in Tongchon
Tongchon
Tongchon is a kun, or county, in Kangwon province, North Korea. It abuts the Sea of Japan to the north and east. Famous people from Tongchon include former Hyundai chairman Chung Ju-yung, who is believed to have been born there....
County, Kangwon Province, he joined the Korean People's Army
Korean People's Army
The Korean People's Army , also known as the Inmin Gun, are the military forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of the National Defence Commission...
in August 1959.
After graduation from the Kim Il Sung Military University, he worked as chief of staff of a division, director of the operations department of an army corps, head of a training center, vice-director of the operations department of the general staff, its deputy chief and head of a training center of the KPA.
He was promoted to Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in April 2002, and afterwards he served as commander of the Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
Defence Command from 2003 to 2009.
He was appointed Chief of General Staff of the KPA in February 2009.
He was elected a member of the Presidium of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea is the leadership body of the Workers' Party of Korea. According to Party rules, the Central Committee directs the Party work between the Party Congresses...
as well as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission
Central Military Commission (DPRK)
The Central Military Commission is an organ of the Workers' Party of Korea which is responsible of coordinating the Party organizations within the Korean People's Army. The full and official name is Commission for Military Affairs of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea...
at the Party Conference held on September 28, 2010. He was also promoted to Vice Marshal immediately before the Conference. Afterwards, he appeared jointly with Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
on several occasions, and he gave the keynote speech during the military parade in October celebrating the WPK's 65th anniversary.