Kim Kyok-sik

General Kim Kyok-sik (; 5 October 1938 – 10 May 2015) was a defence minister of North Korea.

Biography Kim Kyok-sik was born in 1938. He studied at Kim Il Sung Military Academy before being moved to Syria as North Korea's military attaché in the 1970s, possibly managing support activities for the Eritrean Liberation Front and the Turkish Workers' Party. He was made Politburo alternate member in March 2013.

After six months of service, during which he also oversaw the rising military tensions with South Korea from February to April 2013, Kim—dubbed a hardliner—was unexpectedly replaced as minister by little-known general Jang Jong-nam in May 2013, only to be reappointed Chief of the KPA General Staff. He was replaced again in August after only 3 months, possibly during a meeting of the 6th Central Military Commission on August 25. Reports suggest the seizure of a North Korean arms ship in Panama as the reason behind his removal. He died in 2015 of acute respiratory failure.

Awards and honors Kim's portrait displays all medals awarded to him.

Works