Ri Thae-sop

Ri Thae-sop
리태섭
Minister of Social Security
Assumed office
28 December 2022
Supreme LeaderKim Jong Un
Preceded byPark Su-il
Chief of the KPA General Staff
In office
June 2022 – 28 December 2022
Supreme LeaderKim Jong Un
Preceded byRim Kwang-il
Succeeded byPark Su-il
Personal details
CitizenshipNorth Korean
NationalityKorean
Political partyWorkers' Party of Korea
Military service
Allegiance North Korea
Branch/service Korean People's Army
Rank General
Ri Thae-sop
Chosŏn'gŭl
리태섭
Hancha
李太夑
Revised RomanizationRi Taeseop
McCune–ReischauerRi T'aesŏp
[1]

Ri Thae-sop (Korean: 리태섭) is a North Korean politician and general. He served as Minister of Social Security and from June 2022 to December as Chief of the General Staff. He is also a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea. He served as Commander of the 5th Corps and Commander of the 7th Corps.

Biography

[edit]

Ri's birthplace and date of birth are unknown. In April 2004, he was promoted to Major General of the Korean People's Army, and in September 2010, he was elected as a candidate member of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea at the 3rd party conference. Following the death of Kim Jong Il on December 17, 2011, was included as a member of the funeral commission. He was re-elected as a representative to the 13th convocation of the Supreme People's Assembly held on March 9, 2014, and was appointed as the commander of the 7th Corps as a Lieutenant General of the Korean People's Army, although the date of his appointment is unknown. He was re-elected as a member of the Central Committee 7th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea in May 2016.[2]

He was re-elected as a deputy in the 14th election of the Supreme People's Assembly held in March 2019 and was present at the military parade commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea held on October 10, 2020, marching with the 5th Corps column as a general. He was re-elected as a member of the Central Committee at the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea held from January 5, 2021, and at the 4th plenary meeting of the 8th Party Central Committee held from December 27 of the same year, he was appointed Minister of Social Security and was elected as a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee.[3][4] On June 11, 2022, at the 5th Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea he was promoted to Chief of the General Staff of the People's Army, replacing Rim Kwang-il.[5] He was replaced in that position on December 28, 2022, by Park Su-il.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 리태섭(李太燮)LEE Thae Seop. 연합뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  2. ^ Biography of Ri Thae Sop at NK Leadership Watch
  3. ^ DPRK Gets a New Police Boss, 38 North
  4. ^ N. Korea discusses revising operational plans of its front-line military units, Yonhap News Agency
  5. ^ Kim urges stronger national defense; no new direct message on US, S. Korea
  6. ^ "조선로동당 중앙위원회 제8기 제6차전원회의 공보". KCNA Watch. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Social Security
28 December 2022 - Incumbent
Incumbent
Preceded by Minister of Social Security
December 2021–June 2022
Succeeded by
Military offices
Preceded by Chief of the General Staff
June 2022–28 December 2022
Succeeded by