Pak Jong-chon

Pak Jong-chon (Korean: 박정천) is a North Korean Marshal and a member of the Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea.

In this Korean name, the family name is Pak.
Pak Jong-chon
Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission
In office
25 April 2022 – 1 January 2023
ChairmanKim Jong Un
Preceded byRi Pyong-chol
Succeeded byRi Yong-gil
Chief of the General Staff
In office
6 September 2019 – 7 September 2021
Supreme CommanderKim Jong Un
First Deputy ChiefKim Myong-sik
Preceded byRi Yong-gil
Succeeded byRim Kwang-il
Personal details
BornPyongyang, North Korea
Political partyWorkers' Party of Korea
Military service
Allegiance North Korea
Branch/service Korean People's Army
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl
박정천
Hancha
朴正天
Revised RomanizationBak Jeong-cheon
McCune–ReischauerPak Chŏngchŏn

Biography

In 2014, he was appointed Deputy Chief of the General Staff and Chief of Fire Command at the General Staff. However, he was demoted to Major General in 2015 and the Deputy Chief of Staff was fired. In 2016 he was promoted to Lieutenant General and was elected a member of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and Director General of the General Staff Department. He was promoted to Colonel General in 2017. He was promoted to General of the Army on April 14, 2019, and was appointed Chief of Staff of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, having replaced Ri Yong-gil. The appointment is attributed to the successful launch of the new short-range ballistic missile as Artillery Director.

Pak also accompanied Kim Jong Un to the ceremony to the upgrading of the status of Samjiyon from a county (kun) status to a city which was described by the news as a socialist "paradise". He also has accompanied Kim Jong Un to Mt. Paektu and was seen riding near him on a horse.[1]

On May 23, 2020, Pak was promoted to vice marshal. He is often considered a "rising star" in the North Korean power hierarchy.[2]

On 5 October 2020, Pak was promoted to Marshal of the Korean People's Army.[3]

He was reportedly stripped of his Marshal title and demoted to alternate Politburo member in June 2021, following an unspecified "grave incident". In September, however, he was promoted to member of the Politburo Presidium and transferred from his military role to a position as secretary of the Central Committee.[4] On 25 April 2022 he was disclosed as a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea. On 1 January 2023, he was removed as the vice chairman of the CMC.[5]

References
  1. "North Korean army official Pak Jong Chon appears to receive Politburo promotion". 17 December 2019.
  2. Zwirko, Colin (May 24, 2020). "Rising stars: North Korea promotes two high-profile military officials". NK News. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  3. "Title of KPA Marshal Conferred in DPRK". Korean Central News Agency. 6 October 2020.
  4. "North Korea reveals new top military brass days after politburo meeting". NK News. 6 September 2021.
  5. Shin, Hyonhee (2023-01-02). "North Korea's Kim sacks No. 2 military official". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-01-02.


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