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Name |
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Ri Yong-mu |
Sex |
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Male |
Date of Birth |
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1923 |
Place of Birth |
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Posts Held |
Vice chairman of the National Defense Commission, cadre of the Korean
Workers’ Party, deputy commander-in-chief of the People’s Army, member
of the 10th and 11th Supreme People’s Assemblies |
Claim to Fame |
Military general |
Education |
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Profile |
Ri Yong-mu is vice chairman of the National Defense Commission,
the most powerful government body in North Korea. He is said to have
the complete trust of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
As a lieutenant general in 1964, he was named first deputy chief for
general politics in the People’s Defense Bureau. He later became a
cadre of the Korean Workers’ Party’s Central Committee before receiving
a promotion to colonel general. In 1974, he took over the general
political bureau of the People’s Army and was made a political cadre
of the committee. After three years, however, he was demoted and sent
to Ryanggang Province as his fast rise came to a halt. He was held
responsible for negligence in managing a special attack unit of female
troops.
Making a comeback in 1985, Lee was named vice president of the province’s
legislature and returned to Pyongyang four years later as a committee
cadre and the head of the National Censorship Bureau. He received
the honor of Hero of Labor in 1998, but his appointment as deputy
commander-in-chief of the People’s Army and vice chairman of the National
Defense Commission were bigger prizes.
Sources say he is overweight and has a fiery tempered. |
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