General Staff Department of the Korean People's Army

The General Staff Department (GSD) of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is the senior military leadership of the armed forces of North Korea responsible for its administrative, operational and logistical needs. The current Chief of the General Staff is Vice Marshal Ri Yong-gil.^[1][2]

Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army
조선인민군 총참모장
Incumbent Ri Yong-gil since 28 December 2022
Korean People's Army
Reports to	Minister of Defence
Appointer	Supreme Commander
Formation	February 1948
First holder	Colonel General Kang Kon
Deputy	Deputy Chief of the Korean People's Army

Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army
Chosŏn'gŭl	조선인민군 총참모장
Revised Romanization	Joseoninmingun Chongchammojang
McCune–Reischauer	Chosŏninmin'gun Ch'ongch'ammojang

Duties

The GSD is the principal administrative body of the KPA besides the Ministry of Defense, which gives it the authority to do the following:

• Plan the national defense policy for the KPA
• Assess threats to the sovereignty and security of the state
• Regulate the training, education, and organization of the KPA

Chiefs of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army

No.	Portrait	Chief of the General Staff	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Defence branch
1		Kon, KangColonel General Kang Kon 강건 (1918–1950)	February 1948	September 1950	2 years, 7 months	Korean People's Army Ground Force
2		Il, NamGeneral Nam Il 남일 (1915–1976)	September 1950	August 1953	2 years, 11 months	Korean People's Army Ground Force
3		Kwang-hyop, KimGeneral Kim Kwang-hyop 김광협 (1915–1970)	August 1953	September 1957	4 years, 1 month	Korean People's Army Ground Force
4		Kwon-mu, LeeColonel General Lee Kwon-mu 리권무 (1914–1986?)	September 1957	July 1959	1 year, 10 months	Korean People's Army Ground Force
5		Chang-bong, KimColonel General Kim Chang-bong 김창봉	July 1959	October 1962	3 years, 3 months	Korean People's Army Ground Force
6		Kwang, ChoeGeneral Choe Kwang 최광 (1918–1997)	October 1962	December 1968	6 years, 2 months	Korean People's Army Ground Force
7		Jin-u, OGeneral O Jin-u 오진우 (1917–1995)	December 1968	September 1979	10 years, 9 months	Korean People's Army Ground Force
8		Kuk-ryol, OGeneral O Kuk-ryol 오극렬 (1930–2023)	September 1979	February 1988	8 years, 5 months	Korean People's Army Ground Force
(6)		Kwang, ChoeMarshal Choe Kwang 최광 (1918–1997)	February 1988	October 1995	7 years, 8 months	Korean People's Army Ground Force
9		Yong-chun, KimVice Marshal Kim Yong-chun 김영춘 (1936–2018)	October 1995	April 2007	11 years, 6 months	Korean People's Army Ground Force
10		Kyok-sik, KimGeneral Kim Kyok-sik 김격식 (1938–2015)	April 2007	February 2009	1 year, 10 months	Korean People's Army Ground Force
11		Yong-ho, RiVice Marshal Ri Yong-ho 리영호 (1942–2012)	February 2009	July 2012	3 years, 5 months	Korean People's Army Ground Force
12		Yong-chol, HyonVice Marshal Hyon Yong-chol 현영철 (1949–2015)	July 2012	May 2013[3]	10 months	Korean People's Army Ground Force
(10)		Kyok-sik, KimGeneral Kim Kyok-sik 김격식 (1938–2015)	May 2013	August 2013[4]	3 months	Korean People's Army Ground Force
13		Yong-gil, RiGeneral Ri Yong-gil 리영길 (born 1952)	August 2013	January 2016[5]	2 years, 6 months	Korean People's Army Ground Force
14		Myong-su, RiVice Marshal Ri Myong-su 리명수 (born 1934)	February 2016	June 2018	2 years, 4 months	Korean People's Army Ground Force
(13)		Yong-gil, RiGeneral Ri Yong-gil 리영길 (born 1952)	4 June 2018	6 September 2019	1 year, 3 months	Korean People's Army Ground Force
15		Jong-chon, PakMarshal Pak Jong-chon 박정천	6 September 2019	7 September 2021	2 years	Korean People's Army Ground Force
16		Kwang-il, RimGeneral Rim Kwang-il 림광일 (born 1965)	7 September 2021	8 June 2022	9 months	Korean People's Army Ground Force
17		Thae-sop, RiGeneral Ri Thae-sop 리태섭	8 June 2022	28 December 2022	6 months	Korean People's Army Ground Force
18		Su-il, ParkGeneral Park Su-il 박수일	28 December 2022[6]	10 August 2023	7 months	Korean People's Army Ground Force
(13)		Yong-gil, RiVice Marshal Ri Yong-gil 리영길 (born 1952)	10 August 2023	Incumbent	2 years	Korean People's Army Ground Force

See also

• Ministry of Defence (North Korea)