Ri Yong-gil facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vice Marshal Ri Yong-gil
리영길
Ri at the 2019 Kim–Putin meeting
Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission
Incumbent
Assumed office 31 December 2022
Chairman	Kim Jong Un
Preceded by	Pak Jong-chon
Chief of the General Staff
Incumbent
Assumed office 10 August 2023
Preceded by	Park Su-il
In office August 2013 – January 2016
Preceded by	Kim Kyok-sik
Succeeded by	Ri Myong-su
In office 4 June 2018 – 6 September 2019
Preceded by	Ri Myong-su
Succeeded by	Pak Jong-chon
Minister of Defence
In office 29 September 2021 – 31 December 2022
Preceded by	Kim Jong-gwan
Succeeded by	Kang Sun-nam
Minister of Social Security
In office January 2021 – July 2021
Preceded by	Kim Jong-ho
Succeeded by	Kim Jong-ho
Personal details
Born	1952 (age 72–73) North Korea
Political party	Workers' Party of Korea
Military service
Allegiance	North Korea
Branch/service	Korean People's Army
Years of service	1969–present
Rank	Ch'asu (Vice Marshal)
Commands	3rd Army Corps 2002 to 2007 5th Army Corps 2007 to 2012
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl	리영길
Hancha	李永吉
Revised Romanization	I Yeonggil
McCune–Reischauer	Ri Yŏnggil

Ri Yong-gil (born 1952) is a high-ranking military officer and politician in North Korea. He holds the rank of Vice Marshal in the Korean People's Army (KPA). He is currently the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission and the Chief of the General Staff. These are some of the most important military positions in the country.

Military and Political Career

Early Career and Promotions

Ri Yong-gil began his military service around 1969. In April 2002, he was promoted to Lieutenant General. He was given command of the 3rd Army Corps, a key military unit, from 2002 to 2007. After that, he led the 5th Army Corps from 2007 to 2012.

In 2010, he was promoted again, this time to Colonel General. He also became a member of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, the ruling political party in North Korea. By late 2012, he was in charge of the General Staff Operations Bureau. This role involved coordinating army commanders and reporting to the country's top military leaders.

Top Leadership Roles

In August 2013, Ri was appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, one of the highest jobs in the military. He was also promoted to the rank of General.

In early 2016, some news reports incorrectly claimed that he had been removed from his position and punished. However, these rumors were proven false when he appeared at the Party Congress in May 2016. At the congress, he was named a member of the powerful Central Military Commission and an alternate member of the Politburo.

Over the next few years, Ri held several important jobs. He served again as Chief of the General Staff from 2018 to 2019. After that, he worked as a director in a party department.

Recent Appointments

At the 8th Party Congress in January 2021, Ri was re-elected to the Politburo. He was also named the new Minister of Social Security. Later that year, he became the Minister of Defence and joined the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, the highest government body in North Korea.

On April 14, 2022, he was promoted to Vice Marshal, a very high military rank. In December 2022, he became a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission. In August 2023, he was once again appointed Chief of the General Staff.

International Sanctions

In March 2021, the Council of the European Union placed sanctions on Ri Yong-gil. Sanctions are penalties or restrictions that one country or group of countries puts on another. The European Union stated that the reason for the sanctions was related to his role as the head of the Ministry of Social Security.

Awards and Honors

This picture shows the ribbons for the many awards and decorations Ri Yong-gil has received during his long military career.