Kim Il-chol
North Korean politician (1933–2023)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kim Il-chol (Korean: 김일철, 1933 – September 2023) was a North Korean military officer who was a member of the National Defence Commission[1] and Minister for Defence.[2]
Kim Il-chol | |
|---|---|
| 김일철 | |
| |
| Minister of Defense of North Korea | |
| In office 1998–2009 | |
| Preceded by | Choe Kwang |
| Succeeded by | Kim Yong-chun |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1933 |
| Died | September 2023 (aged 89–90) Pyongyang, North Korea |
| Resting place | Patriotic Martyrs' Cemetery |
| Citizenship | North Korean |
| Party | Workers' Party of Korea |
| Awards | Hero of the Republic Order of Kim Il Sung Order of the National Flag |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  North Korea |
| Branch/service |  Korean People's Navy |
| Rank |  Ch'asu (Vice Marshal) |
| Battles/wars | |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 김일철 |
| Hanja | 金鎰喆 |
| RR | Gim Ilcheol |
| MR | Kim Ilch'ŏl |
Biography
Kim was born in Pyongyang in 1933.[3] He graduated from Mangyongdae Revolutionary School and the Soviet Union Naval Academy.[3] Although the North Korean Army mainly depends on ground troops, Admiral Kim, who was commander of the Korean People's Navy since 1982,[4] was in 1998 installed in the highest military position, the Minister of the People's Armed Forces. This filled a vacancy left by Choe Kwang, who died in February 1997, and indicated that he was fully trusted by Kim Jong Il. Kim Il-chol participated as a senior delegate in the inter-Korean defense minister's meeting held for the first time since the division of the Korean peninsula in September 2000.[5]
Kim was appointed to the National Defence Commission in 1988. He was removed from all positions in 2010, reportedly due to his advanced age.[1]
Kim was a member of the Korea-China Association for Civil Exchange Promotion.[6]
Kim was awarded the Hero of the Republic, Order of Kim Il Sung, and the Order of the National Flag (1st Class).[7]
Kim died in Pyongyang in September 2023, at the age of 90.[8]
