Kim Yong-chun

Kim Yong- ch'un ( born March 4, 1935 in the province Kōgendō ) is a North Korean military and politician, and former defense minister of his country.

Kim Yong- ch'un studied at a Soviet military academy in Kyrgyzstan. In 1986 he became a member of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea. In 1995, after the death of the head of state Kim Il-sung, he was appointed marshal. As a loyal follower of his son Kim Jong- il, he helped this his power base in the first years after the death of Kim Il-sung to consolidate. Prior to his appointment as defense minister he was considered a right hand Kim Jong-il and was Chief of Staff of the Korean People's Army and a member of the National Defence Commission, the governing body of North Korea. As Minister of Defence he took over from in February 2009, Kim Il- Ch'ol, who was in office since 1998. In the parliamentary election in 2009 he was elected to the Supreme People's Assembly. At least since October 2010 he is also a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea. In 2012, he was replaced as Minister distribution.