Kim Yong-chol

Early life Kim Yong-chol was born in 1946 in Ryanggang Province.

Kim was sent as part of North Korea's Olympic delegation to the closing ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics held on 24 February 2018. His presence was controversial, mostly due to allegations that Kim was responsible for orchestrating an attack on a South Korean naval ship in 2010 that killed 46 sailors. An article in the Hangook Ilbo warned that Kim's attendance could send "raging waves" throughout the Korean Peninsula, but the games closed without incident.

On 30 May 2018, Kim flew to New York City via China for talks with United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo regarding the 2018 North Korea–United States summit. He was hosted at a residential facility of the US delegation to the United Nations for highly "private" conversations with US counterparts. He then visited the White House for talks with the US President, Donald Trump on 1 June. During this meeting, he delivered a letter to Trump from Kim Jong Un. Because he is subject to US sanctions, the visit required a travel waiver.

On 24 April 2019, Yonhap News Agency reported that North Korea has removed Kim Yong-chol from the head of the United Front Department. After this, South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, based on anonymous sources, reported that Kim was sent to a labour camp due to the failure of negotiations. These reports were disproven in june of the same year, after Kim appeared in a photo published by North Korean media, attending a musical event with Kim Jong Un and other officials.

In July 2020, it was reported that Kim Yong-chol was mentioned in a Rodong Sinmun article in relation to North-South communications working with Kim Yo Jong. Also prior to the article on 24 June 2020, Kim Yong-chol condemned remarks by the South Korean defence minister when he called for "mutual efforts" to reduce tensions between the two Koreas.

In June 2023, he was appointed an adviser of the United Front Department.

Awards and honours A picture of Kim shows him wearing the ribbons to all decorations awarded to him.