People

Who runs North Korea

87 people: the Kim family and the officials around them. Hover a name for a quick card, click for the full profile with family, positions, health reports and sanctions. Every fact links to its source. Get it all as JSON.

The Kim family

Ancestors

Kang Pan Sok1892–1932Kim Hyong Jik1894–1926

Kim Il Sung’s generation

Kim Il Sung1912–1994member of the Supreme People's AssemblyKim Jong Suk1917–1949Kim Yong Ju1920–2021member of the Supreme People's AssemblyKim Song Ae1924–2014Chairwoman of the Democratic Women's Union of Korea

Kim Jong Il’s generation

Song Hye Rim1937–2002Kim Jong Il1941–2011member of the Supreme People's AssemblyKMKim Man Il1944–1947Jang Song Thaek1946–2013Vice Chairman of the National Defence CommissionexecutedKim Kyong Hui1946 · 80member of the Supreme People's AssemblyKo Yong Hui1952–2004Spouse of the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of KoreaKim Pyong Il1954 · 72Ambassador to the Czech RepublicKim Ok1964 · 62Spouse of the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Koreapurged

Kim Jong Un’s generation

Kim Jong Nam1971–2017KSKim Sol Song1974 · 51KJKim Jong Chol1981 · 45Kim Jong Un1984 · 42President of the State Affairs CommissionsanctionedKim Yo Jong1987 · 39Director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the Workers’ Party of KoreaRi Sol Ju1989 · 37First Lady of North Korea

The next generation

KHKim Han Sol1995 · 31Kim Ju Ae2013 · 13

Party and state leadership Politburo, cabinet and the Supreme People’s Assembly

Pak Thae Song1955 · 71Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party of KoreaKim Tok Hun1961 · 65Premier of North KoreaJo Yong Won1957 · 69Member of the Politburo PresidiumsanctionedChoe Ryong Hae1950 · 76President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's AssemblysanctionedRi Pyong Chol1948 · 78Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party of KoreasanctionedPak Jong Chon1960 · 66member of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of KoreaRi Yong Gil1952 · 74Minister of National DefenceKang Sun Nam1960 · 66No Kwang Chol1956 · 70Minister of National DefenceJong Kyong Thaek1961 · 65member of State Affairs CommissionsanctionedKim Jae Ryong1959 · 67Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party of KoreaRi Il Hwan1960 · 66Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party of KoreaO Su Yong1944 · 82Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party of KoreaJon Hyon Chol1965 · 61Vice Premier of the CabinetPak Jong Gun1944 · 82Ri Hi Yong1960 · 66member of the Supreme People's AssemblyKim Hyong Sik1958 · 68Ju Chang Il1960 · 66Director of the Propaganda and Agitation DepartmentsanctionedChoe Thae Bok1930–2024education ministerYang Hyong Sop1925–2022education ministerRi Chang Dae1960 · 66Member of the State Affairs CommissionRi Tae Sop1959 · 67Minister of Social SecurityPang Tu Sop1956 · 70Kim Yong Chol1946 · 80Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party of KoreasanctionedJang Chang Ha2000 · 26Head of the Missile General BureauJo Chun Ryong1960 · 66Secretary of the Central Committee for Munitions IndustrysanctionedPak To Chun1944–2022member of the Supreme People's AssemblysanctionedChoe Son Hui1964 · 62Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of KoreaKim Hyong Jun1949 · 76ambassador of North Korea to RussiaRi Su Yong1940 · 86member of the Supreme People's AssemblyRi Yong Ho1956 · 70member of the Supreme People's AssemblypurgedRi Son Gwon1960 · 66member of State Affairs CommissionRi Yong Ho (General)1942–2012Vice Chairman of the Central Military CommissionHwang Jang-yop1923–2010head teacherHyon Song Wol1977 · 49Member of the WPK Central CommitteeRi Chun Hee1943 · 83Chief Anchor, Korean Central Television (KCTV)Kim Ki Nam1929–2024member of the Supreme People's Assemblysanctioned

Military Korean People’s Army command

Choe Ryong Hae1950 · 76President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's AssemblysanctionedRi Pyong Chol1948 · 78Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party of KoreasanctionedPak Jong Chon1960 · 66member of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of KoreaRi Yong Gil1952 · 74Minister of National DefenceKang Sun Nam1960 · 66No Kwang Chol1956 · 70Minister of National DefenceJong Kyong Thaek1961 · 65member of State Affairs CommissionsanctionedRi Tae Sop1959 · 67Minister of Social SecurityPang Tu Sop1956 · 70Ri Chang Ho1965 · 61Director of the Reconnaissance General BureauRim Kwang Il1965 · 61Chief of General Staff of the Korean People's ArmyKim Yong Chol1946 · 80Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party of KoreasanctionedJang Chang Ha2000 · 26Head of the Missile General BureauKim Jong Sik1967 · 59First Vice Director of the Munitions Industry DepartmentsanctionedHong Sung Mu1942 · 84Member of the WPK Central CommitteeJo Chun Ryong1960 · 66Secretary of the Central Committee for Munitions IndustrysanctionedYu Jin1962 · 64Jon Il Ho1956 · 70sanctionedPak To Chun1944–2022member of the Supreme People's AssemblysanctionedHyon Yong Chol1953–2015defence ministerexecutedRi Yong Ho (General)1942–2012Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission

Security services Secret police, police and intelligence

Jo Yong Won1957 · 69Member of the Politburo PresidiumsanctionedJong Kyong Thaek1961 · 65member of State Affairs CommissionsanctionedKim Jae Ryong1959 · 67Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party of KoreaRi Hi Yong1960 · 66member of the Supreme People's AssemblyKim Hyong Sik1958 · 68Ri Chang Dae1960 · 66Member of the State Affairs CommissionRi Tae Sop1959 · 67Minister of Social SecurityRi Chang Ho1965 · 61Director of the Reconnaissance General BureauRim Kwang Il1965 · 61Chief of General Staff of the Korean People's ArmyKim Yong Chol1946 · 80Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party of KoreasanctionedPark Jin Hyok1984 · 42Hacker, Lab 110 / Lazarus GroupsanctionedKim Won Hong1945 · 81member of the Supreme People's AssemblysanctionedHan Kwang Sang1958 · 68Director of Finance and Accounting DepartmentRi Son Gwon1960 · 66member of State Affairs Commission

Weapons programs Missiles, nuclear and munitions industry

Ri Pyong Chol1948 · 78Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party of KoreasanctionedPak Jong Chon1960 · 66member of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of KoreaJang Chang Ha2000 · 26Head of the Missile General BureauKim Jong Sik1967 · 59First Vice Director of the Munitions Industry DepartmentsanctionedHong Sung Mu1942 · 84Member of the WPK Central CommitteeJo Chun Ryong1960 · 66Secretary of the Central Committee for Munitions IndustrysanctionedYu Jin1962 · 64Jon Il Ho1956 · 70sanctionedChoe Chun Sik1954 · 71sanctionedPak To Chun1944–2022member of the Supreme People's AssemblysanctionedKTKim Tong Gyu1912 · 114

Cyber Hacking units and crypto theft

Ri Chang Ho1965 · 61Director of the Reconnaissance General BureauRim Kwang Il1965 · 61Chief of General Staff of the Korean People's ArmyKim Yong Chol1946 · 80Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party of KoreasanctionedPark Jin Hyok1984 · 42Hacker, Lab 110 / Lazarus Groupsanctioned

Money Office 39, finance and trade

Pak Thae Song1955 · 71Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party of KoreaKim Tok Hun1961 · 65Premier of North KoreaO Su Yong1944 · 82Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party of KoreaJon Hyon Chol1965 · 61Vice Premier of the CabinetPak Jong Gun1944 · 82Han Kwang Sang1958 · 68Director of Finance and Accounting DepartmentJon Il Chun1941 · 85Sin Ryong Man1964 · 62Jon Sung Guk1966 · 60Vice Premier of North KoreaPak Nam Gi1934–2010Director of Planning and Financial DepartmentexecutedKTKim Tong Gyu1912 · 114Ri Ryong Nam1960 · 66Vice Premier of North KoreaRi Su Yong1940 · 86member of the Supreme People's AssemblyRHRyu Hyun-woo1973 · 53ambassador of North Korea to KuwaitKang Myong-do1958 · 67

Diplomats Foreign ministry and ambassadors

Kim Yong Chol1946 · 80Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party of KoreasanctionedChoe Son Hui1964 · 62Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of KoreaKim Song1959 · 67Sin Hong Chol1960 · 66ambassador of North Korea to RussiaRi Ryong Nam1960 · 66Vice Premier of North KoreaKim Hyong Jun1949 · 76ambassador of North Korea to RussiaRi Su Yong1940 · 86member of the Supreme People's AssemblyRi Yong Ho1956 · 70member of the Supreme People's AssemblypurgedKim Kye Gwan1943 · 83member of the Supreme People's AssemblyRi Son Gwon1960 · 66member of State Affairs CommissionPMPak Myong Ho1963 · 63KSKim Son Gyong1968 · 58Thae Yong-ho1961 · 65Member of the National Assembly of South KoreaRIRi Il-gyu1972 · 54RHRyu Hyun-woo1973 · 53ambassador of North Korea to KuwaitJSJo Song-gil1975 · 51Acting Ambassador to ItalyKim Song Hye1965 · 61Head of Secretariat, Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland

Purged or executed What happens to people who fall

Kim Won Hong1945 · 81member of the Supreme People's AssemblysanctionedPak Nam Gi1934–2010Director of Planning and Financial DepartmentexecutedRi Yong Ho1956 · 70member of the Supreme People's AssemblypurgedHyon Yong Chol1953–2015defence ministerexecutedRi Yong Ho (General)1942–2012Vice Chairman of the Central Military CommissionKim Song Hye1965 · 61Head of Secretariat, Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland

Elite defectors Officials who escaped

Thae Yong-ho1961 · 65Member of the National Assembly of South KoreaRIRi Il-gyu1972 · 54RHRyu Hyun-woo1973 · 53ambassador of North Korea to KuwaitJSJo Song-gil1975 · 51Acting Ambassador to ItalyHwang Jang-yop1923–2010head teacherKang Myong-do1958 · 67