From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This is a Korean name; the family name is Choi.
Choi Yong-Kun (1900 or 1903 - 1972) was the Korean People's Army chief commander from 1948 to 1953 North Korean defence minister from 1953 to 1957, , and the President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea, the highest post held by a North Korean politician, from 1957 to his death in 1972.
Choi Yong-Kun was born in T'aech'ŏn County (泰川郡) in North Pyongan, Korea, in 1900 or 1903. After having attended two military academies, he fought in the Northern Expedition of 1927 and took part in the Canton Communist riots in December later that year. He led a guerrilla unit against the Japanese after they occupied Manchuria in September 1931.
In August 1936, Choi became an officer in the Korean People's Revolutionary Army. Afterwards, he came into more promotions and by February 1948, he was appointed the commander-in-chief for all the armies of the Democratic Republic of Korea. He was in fact the senior field commander for all the North Korean armies during the Korean War, from the first invasion of South Korea in June 1950, to the final ceasefire in July 1953.
After the Korean War ended, Choi was promoted to Vice Marshal and was made the Minister of Defence. In 1957, he was made the President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly based in Pyongyang, the highest state post held by a North Korean politician, a post he held from 1957 to his death in 1972.
