Gen. Kim Su Gil
KPA General Political Department (Bureau) Director Gen. Kim Su Gil with Kim Jong Un looking at the construction of the Wo’nsan-Kalma coastal tourism zone (Photo: KCNA)
updated May 31, 2018
General Kim Su Gil (Kim Su-kil) is Director of the Korean People’s Army [KPA] General Political Department. He is also an alternate (candidate) member of the Workers’ Party of Korea [WPK] Political Bureau, member of the WPK Central Committee, member of the WPK Central Military Commission and a deputy to the Supreme People’s Assembly.
Kim’s career began in the Korean People’s Army [KPA] in which he held a series of command positions under the KPA General Political Department and KPA General Staff. His effective promotion to a general-grade officer occurred on April 24, 1992 when he was promoted to Major General (sojang). He spent much of his career working in the high command, eventually rising to the position of Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces [MPAF]. Kim Su Gil was elected to the 12th Supreme People’s Assembly in March 2009. He was promoted to Lieutenant General (chungjang) on April 15, 2010.
Kim Su Gil became a close adjutant to Kim Jong Un, accompanying the Suryo’ng on numerous military inspections and public events. Kim was part of Choe Ryong Hae’s May 2013 visit to China as Jong Un’s special representative. During the Fall of 2013, Kim Su Gil, like other close KPA aides and advisors to Kim Jong Un, lost one star on his shoulderboards, temporarily demoted back to Major General.
From his position at the MPAF, Kim was one of a group senior DPRK officials involved in the ouster and eventual dismissal and execution of Jang Song Taek in December 2013. Kim was elected to the 13th
Supreme People’s Assembly in March 2014. In May 2014 he was appointed Chief Secretary of the Pyongyang WPK City Committee. One of his first public acts was issuing a public apology along with senior Ministry of People’s Security officials for the collapse of an apartment building in Pyongyang, despite the fact the construction preceded Kim Su Gil’s tenure. In May 2016, Kim was elected a full member of the WPK Central Committee and an alternate (candidate) member of the WPK Political
Bureau.
In May 2018, Kim returned to the uniform military ranks and was appointed Director of the KPA General Political Department. He was also elected a member of the WPK Central Military Commission and promoted to four-star KPA General.
Kim Su Gil
Director, KPA General Political Department
Alternate Member, WPK Political Bureau
Member, WPK Central Committee
KPA General (taejang)
Deputy, Supreme People’s Assembly
1992: Promoted, Major-General
2006: deputy director, Ministry of the People’s Armed Forces
2009: elected, deputy, 12th Supreme People’s Assembly
2010: Promoted, Lieutenant-General
Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forces
2014: (March) Elected, depity, 13th Supreme People’s Assembly
(May) Chief Secretary, Pyongyang WPK City Committee
(July) Member, Jon Pyong Ho Funeral Committee
2015: (November) Ri Ul Sol Funeral Committee
(December) Kim Yang Gon Funeral Committee
2016: (May) Elected, Member, 7th WPK Central Committee
Elected, Alternate member, WPK Political Bureau
(May) Member, Kang Sok Ju Funeral Committee
2018: (May) Appointed, Director, KPA General Political Department
Elected, Member, WPK Central Military Commission
Promoted, KPA General
