About Kim Chol
Lived 1960 – 2012 (aged 51–52). Kim Chol was a North Korean politician.
Kim Chol (, 1960 – 2012), worked as a Vice Minister in the North Korean Army. He was allegedly purged and executed in spectacular fashion for "drinking and carousing" during the period of mourning for Kim Jong Il.
South Korean media reported that he was exploded by mortar bombardment, and not shot by firing squad. However, Foreign Policy observed the claims probably originated from gossip and noted that stories about violent deaths of North Korean elites tend to be "exaggerated."
Kim was one of 14 senior party, military, and government officials who were purged during Kim Jong Un's consolidation of power.
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Important facts
People in Kim Chol's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
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Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Kim Chol's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Kim Chol?
North Korean politician
When was Kim Chol born?
Kim Chol was born in 1960.
When did Kim Chol die?
Kim Chol died on 1 October 2012.
What was Kim Chol's occupation?
Kim Chol was a politician.
What nationality was Kim Chol?
Kim Chol was North Korean.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Kim Chol. https://biography.guide/kim-chol/
MLA: "Kim Chol." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/kim-chol/.
Chicago: "Kim Chol." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/kim-chol/.
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