O Kuk-ryol

O Kuk-ryol
This is a Korean name; the family name is O.
O Kuk-ryol
Hangul 오극렬
Hanja 呉克烈
Revised Romanization O Kuk-ryol
McCune–Reischauer O Kŭk-ryŏl

O Kuk-ryol (Korean: 오극렬, born 1931 in Jilin, China) is a North Korean military general and since April 2009, has been a vice chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea as head of its Operations Department.[1][2] The son of O Jung-song and nephew of O Jung-hup, who fought the Japanese with Kim Il-sung, O Kuk-ryol has been a close personal friend of Kim Jong-il, current Supreme Leader of North Korea, since their childhood.[3][4] He has been called the second most powerful man in North Korea, and has been mentioned in Western press as playing a possible role in the leadership succession after Kim Jong-il. A 2006 South Korean intelligence report suggested he was Kim's likely successor, and said that he was "seen as a very reliable person who also knows South Korea well".[5] He was part of the "1980 group", who rose to power as Kim Jong-il succeeded Kim Il-sung.[6]

O previously served as an air force commander, beginning as a major general and superintendent of the North’s air force academy in 1964, and then as a lieutenant general and air force commander in 1967 before joining politics in 1970 as a cadre in the Supreme People's Assembly.[7] In 1973, he was among the pilots who were sent to aid the Egyptian Air Force during the Yom Kippur War.[2] He was promoted again in 1979 to chief of staff of the Korean People's Army Ground Force, after serving two years as the deputy chief of staff, and then to general in 1985, despite a brief departure following disagreements with the Minister of the Armed Forces, O Chin-u. In 1988, he was "purged" by the regime, though this may have had to do with his later counterfeiting activities.[7][2] In 1989, O returned to his post as the head of the defense bureau of the Workers' Party of Korea, where he served until the bureau was transferred into the National Defense Commission in 2009.[4][1]

In June 2009, O was identified by international authorities and the United States government as a key figure in North Korea's currency counterfeiting activities, specifically with United States one hundred-dollar bills, known as Superdollars. He was reported to have also involved members of his family, including his son O Se-won, in the counterfeiting business, which reportedly took place at the Pyongsong Trademark Printing Factory, a factory under the control of O's Operations Department.[8][9] His other son O Se-uk, who was also a military general, defected to the United States in 2004.[3] He also has five daughters, the eldest of which is a screenwriter for a film studio. O is also reportedly fluent in Russian, Chinese, and English.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b Rosen, James (May 1, 2009). "In North Korea, Ailing Kim Begins Shifting Power to Military". Fox News. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/05/01/north-korea-ailing-kim-begins-shifting-power-military/. Retrieved September 22, 2010. 
  2. ^ a b c "O Kuk-ryol: The Power Behind the Throne". Hot Air. June 3, 2009. http://hotair.com/greenroom/archives/2009/06/03/3887/. Retrieved September 22, 2010. 
  3. ^ a b Sano, Yoel (February 18, 2005). "Military holds the key". Asia Times. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/GB18Dg02.html. Retrieved September 22, 2010. 
  4. ^ a b Kirk, Donald (September 22, 2010). "5 key people to watch in North Korea". Christian Science Monitor. http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2010/0921/5-key-people-to-watch-in-North-Korea/General-O-Kuk-ryol. Retrieved September 22, 2010. 
  5. ^ "After Kim Jong-il". Al Jazeera. November 3, 2008. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2008/09/200891132953605898.html. Retrieved September 22, 2010. 
  6. ^ Branford, Becky (January 16, 2009). "Who will succeed N Korea's Kim Jong-il?". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7720345.stm. Retrieved September 22, 2010. 
  7. ^ a b c "O Kuk-ryol". KBS World. http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/event/nkorea_nuclear/people/who_detail_41.htm. Retrieved September 22, 2010. 
  8. ^ Gertz, Bill (June 2, 2009). "N. Korea general tied to forged $100 bills". The Washington Times. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/02/n-korea-general-tied-to-forged-100-bills/. Retrieved September 22, 2010. 
  9. ^ "Reports: Top North Korean General Named in Counterfeit U.S. Money Plot". Fox News. June 2, 2009. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,524498,00.html. Retrieved September 22, 2010. 
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