Kim Chol-man

Kim was born in 1918 in South Pyongan Province. He is the brother-in-law of Han Tok-su, former chairman of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan.[1]

He was trained at the Frunze Military Academy in the Soviet Union, then known as the RKKA Military Academy.[1]

Kim joined Kim Il Sung's United Army in 1937 along with other first-generation guerrilla leaders such as Ri Ul-sol and Kim Ik-hyon.[2]

Kim saw action in the Korean War and suffered physical wounds.[2]

Kim also held many para-military posts. In 1964, he became the Director-General of the Strategy Bureau in the Ministry of People's Security. During this time, he was a central figure in the establishment of a unitary leadership and a collective principle system in North Korea, along with Kim Jong Il.[1] In October 1980 he was appointed a member of the powerful 6th Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea. In September 1998 he became a member of the National Defense Commission.[1] Kim led North Korea's munitions industry, the country's economic base, along with Korean Workers' Party Secretary Jon Pyong-ho.[2]

In November 1967, as a member of the first generation of North Korean leadership, Kim was elected as an alternate member to the 6th Central Committee of the Korean Workers' Party. He was elevated to full member status in November 1970.[1] Kim's position was placed in danger following a 1969 purge of military officials, but survived untouched.[2] For a short period of time (October 1980 – September 1981) Kim was an alternate member of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea, the highest decision-making body of North Korea.[1]

Special positions he held include the Chair of the Second Economic Committee, and the funeral committees of both Kim Il Sung and O Jin-u.[1] The funeral committees are often seen as an indicator of de facto power.[3][4]

In old age, Kim was retired from many of his positions. During a reshuffle in 2003, which saw the removal of other members of the first generation of North Korean leadership such as Ri Ul-sol,[5][6] Kim was retired from the Second Economic Committee and the National Defense Commission.[7] He held on to membership in the Central Military Committee until September 2010.[7]

He was a delegate deputy to the 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th Supreme People's Assemblies.[1]

Kim was the recipient of the Hero of the Republic and Double Hero awards in 1968 and 1992 respectively.[1]

Kim Chol-man died of bladder cancer on 3 December 2018 at the age of 98.[8] His funeral committee was chaired by Kim Jong Un and was composed of the following members:[9]