Choe Yong-rim
Encyclopedia
Choe Yong-rim is the Premier (naegak ch’ongri) of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (commonly known as North Korea) since May 2011 and Workers' Party of Korea central committee presidium member since September 2010."Profiles of Presidium and Members of Political Bureau", KCNA, 29 September 2010.
Choe is described by the New York Times as a "KWP
insider" and a "friend of Kim Jong-Il
's family."
Choe Yong-rim has attended Mangyŏngdae Revolutionary School, Kim Il-sung University and Moscow University. Qualifying as an electrical engineer, he has held various offices since the 1950s, including: instructor, section chief, vice-department director, first vice-department director and department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and chief secretary of the Secretaries Office of the Kumsusan Assembly Hall. He has also held posts of vice-premier of the Administration Council, director of the Central Public Prosecutors Office and secretary general of the SPA Presidium.
From 11 April 2005 to July 2009, he was secretary general (sŏgijang) of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, succeeding Kim Yunhyŏk.
Choe was appointed the chief secretary of the Pyongyang
City Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
(WPK) in 2009, taking a post left unoccupied for nine years since his predecessor Kang Hyun-su's death in 2000. He left the post when he was elected Premier of North Korea
on June 7, 2010 at the Third Session of the 12th Supreme People's Assembly
.
Seen as an instrumental element in Kim Jong-il
's succession process, Choe was elected member of the 5-members Politburo Presidium of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
at the Party Conferece held in September
2010.
as premier during a rare second parliamentary session in 2010.
It was speculated that Kim was ousted partly because of the failed currency reforms which took place in early 2010. According to South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, he reportedly apologized publicly for the mishaps before stepping down. Kim's departure and Choe's elevation coincided with the dismissal of various other ministers in the cabinet who were ostensibly blamed for the failed reforms. The event was seen by analysts as achieving two purposes: settling public outcry over the currency valuation fiasco and engineering a political climate more favourable towards the succession of Kim Jong-un, the supreme leader's youngest son.
As premier, Choe is the head of government in the DPRK
, which means he appoints ministers and vice-premiers, who are confirmed by the Supreme People's Assembly
(SPA), and he is also responsible for economic
and domestic policy. Officially, Choe is part of a triumvirate
that heads the executive branch of North Korea, each with powers equivalent to one-third of those held by a president in presidential system
s. Choe Yong-rim heads the government while Kim Yong-nam
who is the parliament chairman handles foreign relations
and Chairman
Kim Jong-il
of National Defense Commission commands the armed forces
.
Choe is described by the New York Times as a "KWP
Workers' Party of Korea
The Workers' Party of Korea is the ruling Communist party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea. It is also called the Korean Workers' Party...
insider" and a "friend of Kim Jong-Il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
's family."
Career
He joined the Korean People's Revolutionary Army in July 1950.Choe Yong-rim has attended Mangyŏngdae Revolutionary School, Kim Il-sung University and Moscow University. Qualifying as an electrical engineer, he has held various offices since the 1950s, including: instructor, section chief, vice-department director, first vice-department director and department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and chief secretary of the Secretaries Office of the Kumsusan Assembly Hall. He has also held posts of vice-premier of the Administration Council, director of the Central Public Prosecutors Office and secretary general of the SPA Presidium.
From 11 April 2005 to July 2009, he was secretary general (sŏgijang) of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, succeeding Kim Yunhyŏk.
Choe was appointed the chief secretary of the Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
City Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
Workers' Party of Korea
The Workers' Party of Korea is the ruling Communist party of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea. It is also called the Korean Workers' Party...
(WPK) in 2009, taking a post left unoccupied for nine years since his predecessor Kang Hyun-su's death in 2000. He left the post when he was elected Premier of North Korea
Premier of North Korea
The Premier of North Korea is the head of government of North Korea.-Functions and history:...
on June 7, 2010 at the Third Session of the 12th Supreme People's Assembly
Supreme People's Assembly
The Supreme People's Assembly is the unicameral parliament of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea...
.
Seen as an instrumental element in Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
's succession process, Choe was elected member of the 5-members Politburo Presidium of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea is the leadership body of the Workers' Party of Korea. According to Party rules, the Central Committee directs the Party work between the Party Congresses...
at the Party Conferece held in September
September
September is the 9th month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of four months with a length of 30 days.September in the Southern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of March in the Northern Hemisphere....
2010.
Premiership
Choe succeeded Kim Yong-ilKim Yong-il
Kim Yong-il was the Premier of North Korea from April, 2007 to June 7, 2010. He was elected as Premier by the 5th session of the 11th Supreme People's Assembly in April 2007, replacing Pak Pong-ju...
as premier during a rare second parliamentary session in 2010.
It was speculated that Kim was ousted partly because of the failed currency reforms which took place in early 2010. According to South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, he reportedly apologized publicly for the mishaps before stepping down. Kim's departure and Choe's elevation coincided with the dismissal of various other ministers in the cabinet who were ostensibly blamed for the failed reforms. The event was seen by analysts as achieving two purposes: settling public outcry over the currency valuation fiasco and engineering a political climate more favourable towards the succession of Kim Jong-un, the supreme leader's youngest son.
As premier, Choe is the head of government in the DPRK
Government of North Korea
The North Korean government is the executive branch of the state, according to the Constitution of North Korea. In practice, the highest decisions are made by the National Defence Commission of North Korea which is led by its Chairman Kim Jong-il....
, which means he appoints ministers and vice-premiers, who are confirmed by the Supreme People's Assembly
Supreme People's Assembly
The Supreme People's Assembly is the unicameral parliament of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea , commonly known as North Korea...
(SPA), and he is also responsible for economic
Economy of North Korea
The economy of North Korea is an industrialized and centrally planned economy.North Korea's economy remains one of the world's last centrally planned systems. The role of market allocation is sharply limited – mainly in the rural sector where some peasants sell produce from small private plots....
and domestic policy. Officially, Choe is part of a triumvirate
Triumvirate
A triumvirate is a political regime dominated by three powerful individuals, each a triumvir . The arrangement can be formal or informal, and though the three are usually equal on paper, in reality this is rarely the case...
that heads the executive branch of North Korea, each with powers equivalent to one-third of those held by a president in presidential system
Presidential system
A presidential system is a system of government where an executive branch exists and presides separately from the legislature, to which it is not responsible and which cannot, in normal circumstances, dismiss it....
s. Choe Yong-rim heads the government while Kim Yong-nam
Kim Yong-nam
Kim Yong-nam is the current North Korean Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, a position held since 1998. He was elected a member of the presidium of the politburo of the central committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in 2010.He was born in the Central District, Heijo ,...
who is the parliament chairman handles foreign relations
Foreign relations of North Korea
The foreign relations of North Korea are often tense and unpredictable. Since the Korean War armistice in 1953, the North Korean government has been largely isolationist, becoming one of the world's most authoritarian societies...
and Chairman
Chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea
The Chairman of the National Defense Commission of North Korea is the supreme commander of the armed forces of North Korea and the most powerful person in the government...
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
of National Defense Commission commands the armed forces
Korean People's Army
The Korean People's Army , also known as the Inmin Gun, are the military forces of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kim Jong-il is the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Chairman of the National Defence Commission...
.