Kim Rak-gyom explained

Kim Rak-gyom
Nationality:Korean
Citizenship:North Korean
Rank:25px General
Party:Workers' Party of Korea
Hangul:김락겸
Rr:Gim Nakgyeom
Mr:Kim Rakkyŏm
Context:North

Lt. Gen. Kim Rak-gyom is the former head of North Korea's Strategic Rocket Forces.[1] [2]

Along with Ju Kyu-chang, he was elected to the Workers' Party of Korea's Central Military Commission in April 2012.[3]

He is "the head of the strategic rocket forces"[4] and "in charge of ballistic missile launches".[5]

He was not present at an October 7, 2017, mass rally in Pyongyang and an October 11, 2017, celebration for the anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea. According to a South Korean think tank, "There's little chance that Ri and Kim have been dismissed or purged because they've been praised for major achievements recently." and "It's highly likely that they were absent because they'd been given an important assignment."

Kim was reportedly replaced by Kim Jong-gil in October 2020.[6]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Song . Sang-ho . June 14, 2012 . North Korea Names New Strategic Rocket Commander . . March 22, 2022.
  2. Web site: June 16, 2012 . KPA Brass' Promotion and Demotion . March 23, 2022 . North Korea Leadership Watch.
  3. News: June 15, 2012 . N.Korea Appoints New Head of Missile Force . . January 16, 2013.
  4. News: October 12, 2017 . Mysterious Absence of North Korea's 'Rocket Men' Raises New Nuke, Missile Fears . en-US . Fox News . March 22, 2022.
  5. News: Kim . Myong-song . October 11, 2017 . N.Korea's Key 'Rocket Men' Absent from Major Events . Chosun . October 17, 2017.
  6. News: Shim . Elizabeth . October 14, 2020 . North Korea Promotes Unknown General to Oversee Missile Development . . March 23, 2022 . The statement from KCTV is the first confirmation North Korea has replaced Strategic Force chief Kim Rak Gyom..