North Korea, a mysterious and interesting country, has attracted the world's attention with every move of its supreme leader, Kim Jong-un. But, you know what?In North Korea's political system, there is also a nominal head of state, and he is Choe Ryong-hae, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea.
Choe Ryong-hae, born in 1950, is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the DPRK Labor Commission, a member of the Military Commission, and the first vice chairman of the State Affairs Commission. His father, Choe Hyun, was a general of the Korean People's Army, a former minister of the Korean People's Armed Forces, and a loyal supporter of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
Choi Yonghae's political career can be said to be full of ups and downs, and he has been degraded and made a comeback many times. He was once the leader of the Korean Youth League, but was removed from his post and sent to a collective farm on suspicion of corruption and luxury. Later, he returned to the center of power, served as the secretary of the Party Committee of North Hwanghae Province, was awarded the rank of general, and was elected as an alternate member of the Politburo and secretary of the Secretariat of the Korean Labor ***. In 2012, he was awarded the rank of vice marshal, served as the director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army, and was elected as a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the DPRK Labor Army, vice chairman of the Military Commission, and a member of the National Defense Commission, becoming the "No. 2 person" in North Korea.
In 2014, Choe Ryong-hae suffered another political crisis, and was successively removed from his posts as director of the General Political Bureau of the People's Army and vice chairman of the ** Military Committee, and was considered marginalized because of health problems. However, he soon regained his influence, was appointed chairman of the National Sports Guidance Committee, made a surprise visit to South Korea, and appeared in public with Kim Jong-un, known as "a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the DPRK Labor ***, ** Secretary, and Chairman of the National Sports Guidance Committee". It is rumored that Choi Ryong-hae was able to make a comeback because his second son, Choi Sung, married Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong-un's half-sister, and became the in-laws of the Kim family.
In 2015, Choe Ryong-hae suffered another demotion, from a member of the Politburo Standing Committee to a member of the Politburo, and was believed to have been punished for the Paekdusan power station collapse. However, he returned to the position of a member of the Politburo Standing Committee in 2016, and in 2017, he became the head of the Labor Organization Guidance Department, which is in charge of the appointment and dismissal of personnel in North Korea.
In April 2019, Choe Ryong-hae was appointed chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly at the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea, succeeding Kim Yong-nam as the nominal head of state of North Korea. At the same time, he also served as the first vice chairman of the State Affairs Commission and is Kim Jong-un's top deputy. Choe Ryong-hae's appointment shows his important position in the North Korean political system and reflects Kim Jong-un's trust and dependence on him.
Choe Ryong-hae, a political wizard of North Korea, a head of state of North Korea, his past and present are full of legends, what will his future be?Let's wait and see.