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General of the Army
No Kwang-chol
General of the Army No Kwang-chol
노광철
Minister of Defence
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 8 October 2024
Preceded by	Kang Sun-nam
	In office; 4 June 2018 – 21 December 2019
Preceded by	Pak Yong-sik
Succeeded by	Kim Jong-gwan
Personal details
Born	1956 (age 68–69); Nampo, North Korea
Political party	Workers' Party of Korea
Military service
Allegiance	North Korea
Branch/service	Korean People's Army
Rank	General
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl	노광철
Hancha	努光鐵
Revised Romanization	No Gwangcheol
McCune–Reischauer	No Kwangch'ŏl

No Kwang-chol (Korean: 노광철; Hanja: 努光鐵; born 1956) is a North Korean soldier, a four-star general, and a member of the political bureau,^[1] who is the current minister of Defence.

Biography

No was born in 1956.^[2]

He was elected as a member of the Supreme People's Assembly following the 2003 election and 2009 election. In the September 2010 Representative Conference, he was elected as an alternate (candidate) member of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea. In December 2011, Kim Jong Il died and he was included as one of the members of his funeral committee.

In June 2018, he was promoted from first vice minister to Minister of People's Armed Forces.^[3]

On June 12, 2018, Trump and Kim Jong Un were meeting in Singapore. At the meeting, Trump wanted to shake hands with No, who was accompanying Kim Jong Un in the meeting, but No did not shake hands but saluted Trump. After Trump hesitated, he saluted him and the two shook hands. Because the United States and North Korea are technically still at war, Trump's salute has triggered controversy and criticism of Trump in the United States.^{[citation needed]}

On 21 December 2019 he was replaced by Kim Jong-gwan. From 12 April 2019 to 12 April 2020 he served as a member of the State Affairs Commission. Since his dismissal as minister, No reportedly headed a research institute under the General Staff Department of the Korean People's Army, and was observed attending meetings including the enlarged meetings of the WPK Central Military Commission.^[4]

On 8 October 2024, during 11th Session of the 14th Supreme People's Assembly, No Kwang-chol was reappointed as the minister of Defence.^[5]

Awards and honors

A picture of No shows him wearing the ribbons to all decorations awarded to him.

References

^ "What the new photos of North Korea's leaders say". BBC News. 13 May 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
^ 노광철(남성. nkinfo.unikorea.go.kr (in Korean). Ministry of Unification. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
^ Haas, Benjamin (4 June 2018). "North Korea sacks top three military officials, as nuclear summit nears". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
^ "No Kwang Chol Returns as Defense Minister". North Korea Leadership Watch. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
^ Lee, Haye-ah (9 October 2024). "N. Korea amends constitution at parliamentary meeting without disclosing details". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 9 October 2024.

Political offices
Preceded by Pak Yong-sik	Minister of People's Armed Forces 2018–2019	Succeeded by Kim Jong-gwan
Preceded by Kang Sun-nam	Minister of Defence 2023–present	Incumbent