Kim Yong-chun

Born in 1936 in Yanggang Province, he attended the Mangyongdae Revolutionary School and the Kim Il-sung Military University before starting his career in the party apparatus and the Korean People's Army.

He served as secretary of the South Pyongyang Provincial Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in the 1960s and was elected alternate member of the WPK Central Committee in 1980 at the 6th Party Congress. In 1986 he was elevated to Central Committee full member, director of the KPA General Staff Operations Bureau and deputy to the Supreme People's Assembly. He was abruptly purged in 1988 along with Chief of General Staff O Kuk-ryol for disputes with O Jin-u.[4]

Kim Yong-chun reappeared in the 1990s as he was promoted to general and director of the General Munitions Mobilization Bureau. He also oversaw the disbandment of the North Hamgyong Province's Sixth Army Corps, accused of corruption. In 1995, after O Jin-u's death, he was promoted to Vice Marshal and Chief of the KPA General Staff, a post he held until 2007, when he was appointed a vice-chairman of the National Defence Commission.

Kim Yong-chun was reputedly close to Kim Jong-il and a member of his court of aides.[4] He received new promotions in 2009 as Minister of People's Armed Forces and in 2010 as member of the Politburo and the Central Military Commission.

In December 2011, after the leader's death, he was ranked 5th among members of the Kim Jong-il funeral committee, immediately after Kim Jong-un and the Politburo Presidium members (Kim Yong-nam, Choe Yong-rim and Ri Yong-ho), signalling his powerful position in the new leadership.[5]

He was replaced as Minister by Kim Jong-gak and appointed director of the WPK Civil Defense Department in April 2012.[3] Although displaced from all significant leading posts, he was awarded the largely honorary rank of Marshal of the Korean People's Army in April 2016.[6]

Kim Yong-chun died on 16 August 2018 from myocardial infarction, aged 82. On his funeral committee were:[7]

A frame with Kim's awards and honors was displayed during his funeral, showing all the decorations he had received.[8]

Two gold autographed wristwatches and one pocket watch featuring Kim Il Sung or Kim Jong Il's signature

Two silver autographed wristwatches featuring Kim Il Sung or Kim Jong Il's signature

Hero of the Republic

Order of Kim Il-sung, twice

Order of Kim Jong Il

Order of the National Flag First Class, eight times

Order of Korean Labour, twice

Commemorative Order "Anniversary of the Foundation of the People's Army", twice

Commemorative Order "20th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea", twice

Commemorative Order "Foundation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea", twice

Order of the National Flag Second Class, twice

Order of Freedom and Independence Second Class

Commemorative Order "50th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea", twice

Order of the Red Banner of Three Great Revolutions

Commemorative Order "40th Anniversary of Fatherland Liberation War Victory"

Order of the National Flag Third Class, three times

Medal For Military Merit, twice

Commemorative Medal "Fatherland Liberation"

Commemorative Medal "The Foundation of the People's Republic of Korea", twice