Kim Chol

For the South Korean field hockey player, see Kim Chul.

Not to be confused with Kim Jong-nam.

Kim Chol (김철, born c. 1960 died: 2012), worked as a Vice Minister in the North Korean Army. He was allegedly purged and executed in spectacular fashion for "drinking and carousing" during the period of mourning for Kim Jong Il.^[1]

Kim Chol
Born	c. 1960
Died	c. 2012
Nationality	North Korean
Occupation	former Vice Minister of defence
Employer	Korean People's Army
Known for	work as minister
Political party	Worker's Party of Korea
Criminal charge	treason
Criminal status	executed
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl	김철
Hancha	金哲
Revised Romanization	Gim Cheol
McCune–Reischauer	Kim Ch'ŏl

In this Korean name, the family name is Kim.

South Korean media reported that he was exploded by mortar bombardment, and not shot by firing squad.^[1][2] However, Foreign Policy observed the claims probably originated from gossip and noted that stories about violent deaths of North Korean elites tend to be "exaggerated."^[3]

Kim was one of 14 senior party, military, and government officials who were purged during Kim Jong Un's consolidation of power.^{[4][better source needed]}

See also

• Media coverage of North Korea