Eisspeedway

General Staff Department of the Korean People's Army

General Staff Department of the Korean People's Army
Chosŏn'gŭl
조선인민군 총참모부
Revised RomanizationJoseoninmingun Chongchammobu
McCune–ReischauerChosŏninmin'gun Ch'ongch'ammobu
Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army
조선인민군 총참모장
Incumbent
Ri Yong-gil
since 28 December 2022
Korean People's Army
Reports toMinister of Defence
AppointerSupreme Commander
FormationFebruary 1948
First holderColonel General Kang Kon
DeputyDeputy Chief of the Korean People's Army
Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army
Chosŏn'gŭl
조선인민군 총참모장
Revised RomanizationJoseoninmingun Chongchammojang
McCune–ReischauerChosŏninmin'gun Ch'ongch'ammojang

The General Staff Department (GSD) of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is the senior military leadership of the armed forces of North Korea responsible for its administrative, operational and logistical needs. The current Chief of the General Staff is Vice Marshal Ri Yong-gil.[1][2]

Duties

The GSD is the principal administrative body of the KPA besides the Ministry of Defense, which gives it the authority to do the following:

  • Plan the national defense policy for the KPA
  • Assess threats to the sovereignty and security of the state
  • Regulate the training, education, and organization of the KPA

Chiefs of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army

No. Portrait Chief of the General Staff Took office Left office Time in office Defence branch
1
Kang Kon 강건
Kon, KangColonel General
Kang Kon
강건

(1918–1950)
February 1948September 19502 years, 7 months Korean People's Army Ground Force
2
Nam Il 남일
Il, NamGeneral
Nam Il
남일

(1915–1976)
September 1950August 19532 years, 11 months Korean People's Army Ground Force
3
Kim Kwang-hyop 김광협
Kwang-hyop, KimGeneral
Kim Kwang-hyop
김광협

(1915–1970)
August 1953September 19574 years, 1 month Korean People's Army Ground Force
4
Lee Kwon-mu 리권무
Kwon-mu, LeeColonel General
Lee Kwon-mu
리권무

(1914–1986?)
September 1957July 19591 year, 10 months Korean People's Army Ground Force
5
Kim Chang-bong 김창봉
Chang-bong, KimColonel General
Kim Chang-bong
김창봉
July 1959October 19623 years, 3 months Korean People's Army Ground Force
6
Choe Kwang 최광
Kwang, ChoeGeneral
Choe Kwang
최광

(1918–1997)
October 1962December 19686 years, 2 months Korean People's Army Ground Force
7
O Jin-u 오진우
Jin-u, OGeneral
O Jin-u
오진우

(1917–1995)
December 1968September 197910 years, 9 months Korean People's Army Ground Force
8
O Kuk-ryol 오극렬
Kuk-ryol, OGeneral
O Kuk-ryol
오극렬

(1930–2023)
September 1979February 19888 years, 5 months Korean People's Army Ground Force
(6)
Choe Kwang 최광
Kwang, ChoeMarshal
Choe Kwang
최광

(1918–1997)
February 1988October 19957 years, 8 months Korean People's Army Ground Force
9
Kim Yong-chun 김영춘
Yong-chun, KimVice Marshal
Kim Yong-chun
김영춘

(1936–2018)
October 1995April 200711 years, 6 months Korean People's Army Ground Force
10
Kim Kyok-sik 김격식
Kyok-sik, KimGeneral
Kim Kyok-sik
김격식

(1938–2015)
April 2007February 20091 year, 10 months Korean People's Army Ground Force
11
Ri Yong-ho 리영호
Yong-ho, RiVice Marshal
Ri Yong-ho
리영호

(1942–2012)
February 2009July 20123 years, 5 months Korean People's Army Ground Force
12
Hyon Yong-chol 현영철
Yong-chol, HyonVice Marshal
Hyon Yong-chol
현영철

(1949–2015)
July 2012May 2013[3]10 months Korean People's Army Ground Force
(10)
Kim Kyok-sik 김격식
Kyok-sik, KimGeneral
Kim Kyok-sik
김격식

(1938–2015)
May 2013August 2013[4]3 months Korean People's Army Ground Force
13
Ri Yong-gil 리영길
Yong-gil, RiGeneral
Ri Yong-gil
리영길

(born 1952)
August 2013January 2016[5]2 years, 6 months Korean People's Army Ground Force
14
Ri Myong-su 리명수
Myong-su, RiVice Marshal
Ri Myong-su
리명수

(born 1934)
February 2016June 20182 years, 4 months Korean People's Army Ground Force
(13)
Ri Yong-gil 리영길
Yong-gil, RiGeneral
Ri Yong-gil
리영길

(born 1952)
4 June 20186 September 20191 year, 3 months Korean People's Army Ground Force
15
Pak Jong-chon 박정천
Jong-chon, PakMarshal
Pak Jong-chon
박정천
6 September 20197 September 20212 years Korean People's Army Ground Force
16
Rim Kwang-il 림광일
Kwang-il, RimGeneral
Rim Kwang-il
림광일

(born 1965)
7 September 20218 June 20229 months Korean People's Army Ground Force
17
Ri Thae-sop 리태섭
Thae-sop, RiGeneral
Ri Thae-sop
리태섭
8 June 202228 December 20226 months Korean People's Army Ground Force
18
Park Su-il 박수일
Su-il, ParkGeneral
Park Su-il
박수일
28 December 2022[6]10 August 20237 months Korean People's Army Ground Force
(13)
Ri Yong-gil 리영길
Yong-gil, RiVice Marshal
Ri Yong-gil
리영길

(born 1952)
10 August 2023Incumbent1 year, 3 months Korean People's Army Ground Force

See also

References