Jo Myong-Rok
Encyclopedia
Jo Myong-rok was a member of the North Korea
n military. He held the North Korean military rank Chasu
(Vice Marshal). In 2009, he was appointed First Vice-Chairman of the National Defense Commission, Director of the Korean People's Army
General Political Bureau. In the past, he was the commander of the air defense forces.
Jo was born in Yonsa County
, North Hamgyong province, on 12 July 1928 and he joined the Korean People's Army
in December 1950. He was a graduate of the Manchuria Aviation School and Soviet Air Academy.
After serving as a pilot in the Korean War
, Jo was promoted to major general
in 1954 and lieutenant general
in 1976. Meanwhile, he held other important posts, such as commanding officer of Pyongyang
's Air Defence Command (1975–1977), and commanding officer of the KPA Air Force from 1977 till 1995.
At the 6th Party Congress in 1980, Jo Myong-rok was elected both member of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
(of which he had been an alternate member since 1975) and its Military Commission
. In the 1990s, he saw a huge increase of his importance: in 1992 he was promoted to general
; in 1994 he was part of Kim Il-sung
's funeral committee; in 1995 he was promoted to Vice Marshal
and director of the KPA General Political Bureau. By 1998, when he was also appointed to the position of First Vice Chairman of the National Defence Commission
, he was the second most powerful person in the country, ranking immediately beneath Kim Jong-il
himself.
In 2000, he traveled to Washington D.C. on a goodwill mission.
On 6 November 2010, Jo died of a heart attack, at the age of 82, one month after he was elected as member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau. His funeral committee was chaired by Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un.
Against expectations, his successor was not elected at the 4th Session of the 12th Supreme People's Assembly
in April 2011. There are speculation that Kim Jong-il
is deliberately leaving the post vacant in order to promote his son, Kim Jong-un, when he will be ready.
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North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
n military. He held the North Korean military rank Chasu
Chasu
Chasu is a superior military rank of North Korea, often translated as Vice-Marshal. The rank is senior to that of Daejang and junior to that of Wonsu...
(Vice Marshal). In 2009, he was appointed First Vice-Chairman of the National Defense Commission, Director of the Korean People's Army
Korean People's Army
The Korean People's Army , also known as the Inmin Gun, are the military forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of the National Defence Commission...
General Political Bureau. In the past, he was the commander of the air defense forces.
Jo was born in Yonsa County
Yonsa
Yŏnsa is a kun, or county, in North Hamgyong province, North Korea. It was created following the division of Korea, being split off from Musan county in the 1952 reorganization of local government....
, North Hamgyong province, on 12 July 1928 and he joined the Korean People's Army
Korean People's Army
The Korean People's Army , also known as the Inmin Gun, are the military forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of the National Defence Commission...
in December 1950. He was a graduate of the Manchuria Aviation School and Soviet Air Academy.
After serving as a pilot in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, Jo was promoted to major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in 1954 and lieutenant general
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
in 1976. Meanwhile, he held other important posts, such as commanding officer of Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
's Air Defence Command (1975–1977), and commanding officer of the KPA Air Force from 1977 till 1995.
At the 6th Party Congress in 1980, Jo Myong-rok was elected both member of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea is the leadership body of the Workers' Party of Korea. According to Party rules, the Central Committee directs the Party work between the Party Congresses...
(of which he had been an alternate member since 1975) and its Military Commission
Central Military Commission (DPRK)
The Central Military Commission is an organ of the Workers' Party of Korea which is responsible of coordinating the Party organizations within the Korean People's Army. The full and official name is Commission for Military Affairs of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea...
. In the 1990s, he saw a huge increase of his importance: in 1992 he was promoted to general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
; in 1994 he was part of Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung was a Korean communist politician who led the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its founding in 1948 until his death in 1994. He held the posts of Prime Minister from 1948 to 1972 and President from 1972 to his death...
's funeral committee; in 1995 he was promoted to Vice Marshal
Chasu
Chasu is a superior military rank of North Korea, often translated as Vice-Marshal. The rank is senior to that of Daejang and junior to that of Wonsu...
and director of the KPA General Political Bureau. By 1998, when he was also appointed to the position of First Vice Chairman of the National Defence Commission
National Defence Commission of North Korea
The National Defense Commission of North Korea is defined by the 1998 constitution as “the highest guiding organ of the military and the managing organ of military matters.” The Chairman of the National Defense Commission controls the armed forces and, in this state where the military...
, he was the second most powerful person in the country, ranking immediately beneath Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
himself.
In 2000, he traveled to Washington D.C. on a goodwill mission.
On 6 November 2010, Jo died of a heart attack, at the age of 82, one month after he was elected as member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau. His funeral committee was chaired by Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un.
Against expectations, his successor was not elected at the 4th Session of the 12th Supreme People's Assembly
Supreme People's Assembly
The Supreme People's Assembly is the unicameral parliament of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea...
in April 2011. There are speculation that Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
is deliberately leaving the post vacant in order to promote his son, Kim Jong-un, when he will be ready.
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