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 | Hyon Yong-chol |
| Parent agency | National Defence Commission |
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. Prior to 1992, it was under the direct control of the president, with guidance from the National Defense 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 Hyon Yong-chol, who was appointed to the post in June 2014.
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:[1]
- General Political Bureau
- General Staff Department
- Security Command
Ministers of People's Armed Forces
| # | Name | Rank | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choe Yong-gon | Vice Marshal | September 1948 – September 1957 |
| 2 | Kim Kwang-hae | General | September 1957 – October 1962 |
| 3 | Kim Chang-bong | General | October 1962 – December 1968 |
| 4 | Choe Hyon | General | December 1968 – May 1976 |
| 5 | O Jin-u | Marshal | May 1976 – February 1995 |
| 6 | Choe Kwang | Marshal | October 1995 – February 1997 |
| 7 | Kim Il-chol | Vice Marshal | February 1997 – February 2009 |
| 8 | Kim Yong-chun | Vice Marshal | February 2009 – April 2012 |
| 9 | Kim Jong-gak | Vice Marshal | April – November 2012 |
| 10 | Kim Kyok-sik | General | November 2012 – May 2013 [2] |
| 11 | Jang Jong-nam | General | May 2013 – June 2014 [3] |
| 12 | Hyon Yong-chol | Colonel General | June 2014 – Present [4] |
See also
References
- ↑ 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.
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