Ministry of People's Armed Forces
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction |
 North Korea |
| Headquarters |
Pyongyang 39°3′39″N 125°44′20″E / 39.06083°N 125.73889°ECoordinates: 39°3′39″N 125°44′20″E / 39.06083°N 125.73889°E |
| Minister responsible | |
| Parent agency | National Defence Commission |
| Ministry of People's Armed Forces | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 인민무력부 |
|---|---|
| Revised Romanization | Inminmuryeokbu |
| McCune–Reischauer | Inminmuryŏkpu |
The Ministry of People’s Armed Forces (MPAF) is the government agency tasked with general administrative and logistical coordination of the Korean People’s Army (KPA). Prior to 1992, it was under the direct control of the president, with guidance from the National Defence Commission and the Workers' Party of Korea Military Affairs Department. The 1992 state constitution shifts its control to the National Defence Commission. The current Minister of People's Armed Forces is Pak Yong-sik, who was appointed to the post in July 2015.[1]
Duties
The Ministry of People’s Armed Forces is essentially an umbrella agency gathering the KPA's logistical, political, and personnel components. The ministry also has departments which coordinate relations with foreign militaries, as well as regulating Government-owned corporations related to the defence industry and other foreign currency earning ventures. The ministry, through the General Staff Department is responsible for the daily operational planning and management of the KPA's ground, naval, and air commands. It develops strategy, conducts education and training, conveys the orders and guidance of the KPA Supreme Command and completes certain signals intelligence tasks.
Departments
The Ministry of People's Armed Forces contains the following departments:[2]
- General Political Bureau
- General Staff Department
- Security Command
Director of the General Political Bureau and Chief of the General Staff have more power than Minister.
Ministers of People's Armed Forces
| Minister of People's Armed Forces | |
| Chosŏn'gŭl | 인민무력부장 |
|---|---|
| Revised Romanization | Inminmuryeokbujang |
| McCune–Reischauer | Inminmuryŏkpujang |
| # | Name | Chosŏn'gŭl | Rank | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choe Yong-gon | 최용건 | Vice Marshal | September 1948 – September 1957 |
| 2 | Kim Kwang-hyop | 김광협 | General | September 1957 – October 1962 |
| 3 | Kim Chang-bong | 김창봉 | General | October 1962 – December 1968 |
| 4 | Choe Hyon | 최현 | General | December 1968 – May 1976 |
| 5 | O Jin-u | 오진우 | Marshal | May 1976 – February 1995 |
| 6 | Choe Kwang | 최광 | Marshal | October 1995 – February 1997 |
| 7 | Kim Il-chol | 김일철 | Vice Marshal | February 1997 – February 2009 |
| 8 | Kim Yong-chun | 김영춘 | Vice Marshal | February 2009 – April 2012 |
| 9 | Kim Jong-gak | 김정각 | Vice Marshal | April – November 2012 |
| 10 | Kim Kyok-sik | 김격식 | General | November 2012 – May 2013[3] |
| 11 | Jang Jong-nam | 장정남 | General | May 2013 – June 2014[4] |
| 12 | Hyon Yong-chol | 현영철 | Colonel General | June 2014 – April 2015[5] |
| 13 | Pak Yong-sik | 박영식 | General | May 2015 – present |
See also
- General Staff Department of the Korean People's Army
- General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army
References
- ↑ Amy R. Connolly (July 11, 2015). "Gen. Pak Yong Sik confirmed as new North Korea defense minister". United Press International. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
- ↑ Worden, Robert L., ed. (2008). North Korea: A Country Study. Library of Congress, Federal Research Division. p. 242. ISBN 9780160814228.
- ↑ "North Korea appoints hardline general as armed forces minister", The Guardian, 29 November 2012.
- ↑ "North Korea Defense Minister Kim Kyok Sik Replaced With Jang Jong Nam". Huffington Post. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-28.
- ↑ "North Korea replaces defense minister". Channel NewsAsia. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-25.