Kim Yong Chun Funeral Held

KJU’s last observed appearance was his visit to Samjiyo’n County with Ri Sol Ju

A funeral was held for Marshal Kim Yong Chun (Kim Yo’ng-ch’un) on August 20 (Monday).  Among the senior DPRK officials who joined Kim Yong Chun’s family members at the April 25 House of Culture were Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) Presidium President Kim Yong Nam (Kim Yo’ng-nam), DPRK Premier Pak Pong Ju (Pak Pong-chu) and SPA Presidium Vice President Yang Hyong Sop (Yang Hyo’ng-sop).

A brief ceremony was held in which Marshal Kim’s casket was carried from the funeral parlor at the April 25 House of Culture to a BTR, accompanied by members of the funeral committee, while solemn music played.

The funeral cortege passed through streets in north-central Pyongyang.  DPRK students,  Pyongyangites, Korean People’s Army (KPA) service members and officers and Korean People’s Internal Security Forces’ officers lined the streets.  They “bid farewell to the deceased in deep sorrow” and paid their respects as the cortege processed to the Patriotic Martyrs’ Cemetery in Sinmin-ri in suburban Pyongyang.

Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) was present at the burial service at the cemetery where he “climbed the cemetery with members of the state funeral committee following the coffin.”

Joining members of Kim Yong Chun’s family at the service were members of the funeral committee.  Senior party and state officials in attendance included: WPK Vice Chairman and Director of the WPK International Affairs Department Ri Su Yong (Ri Su-yo’ng), senior adviser VMar Ri Myong Su (Ri Myo’ng-su), WPK Vice Chairman and Director of the WPK Propaganda and Agitation Department Pak Kwang Ho (Pak Kwang-ho), WPK Vice Chairman and Director of the WPK Cadres’ Affairs Department Kim Phyong Hae (Kim P’yo’ng-hae), WPK Vice Chairman and Director of the WPK Munitions Industry Department Thae Jong Su (T’ae Cho’ng-su), Minister of the People’s Security Gen. Choe Pu Il (Ch’oe Pu-il), Minister of State Security Col. Gen. Jong Kyong Thaek (Cho’ng Kyo’ng-t’aek),  WPK Vice Chairman and Director of the United Front Department Kim Yong Chol (Kim Yo’ng-ch’o’l), WPK Vice Chairman and Director of the WPK Light Industry Department WPK Vice Chairman for Science and Education Pak Thae Song (Pak T’ae-so’ng), WPK Vice Chairman for General Affairs Pak Thae Dok (Pak T’ae-tok), WPK Vice Chairman for Workers’ and Social Organizations Choe Hwi (Ch’oe Hwi),  WPK Vice Chairman for Economic Affairs O Su Yong (O Su-yo’ng), Worker-Peasant Red Guard Commander Ri Yong Rae (Ri Yo’ng-rae), WPK Organization Guidance Department Senior Deputy Director Hwang Pyong So (Hwang Pyo’ng-so’), WPK Organization Guidance Department Senior Deputy Director Kim Kyong Ok (Kim Kyo’ng-ok), WPK Organization Guidance Department Senior Deputy Director Ri Man Gon (Ri Man-ko’n), WPK Munitions Industry Department Senior Deputy Director and Operations Command Group member Ri Pyong Chol (Ri Pyo’ng-ch’o’l), WPK Workers’ and Organizations Department Director Ri Il Hwan (Ri Il-hwan), WPK Agricultural Department Director Ri Chol Man (Ri Ch’o’l-man), WPK Munitions Industry Department Senior Deputy Director Hong Sung Mu (Hong Su’ng-mu) and WPK Inspection Committee (Control Commission) Chairman Jo Yon Jun (Cho Yo’n-ch’un).  Directing the event were Kim Chang Son and Kim Yo Jong.

Senior KPA commanders in attendance included: KPA General Political Bureau Director Gen. Kim Su Gil (Kim Su-kil), Chief of the KPA General Staff Gen. Ri Yong Gil (Ri Yo’ng-kil), 1st Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forced and Director of the KPA General Logistics Department Gen. So Hong Chan (So Hong-ch’an), Vice Chief of the KPA General Staff Gen. O Kum Chol (O Kum-ch’o’l), KPA General Political Bureau Deputy Director Col. Gen. Son Chol Ju (Son Ch’o’l-chu), KPA General Political Bureau Deputy Director Col. Gen. Ri Tu Song (Ri Tu-so’ng), Vice Minister of the People’s Armed Forced Col. Gen. Kim Hyong Ryong (Kim Hyo’ng-ryong), KPA Artillery Command Director and Vice Chief of the KPA General Staff Col. Gen. Pak Jong Chon (Pak Cho’ng-cho’n) and 105th Tank Corps Commander Col. Gen. Kim Song Chol (Kim So’ng-ch’o’l).

KPA General Political Bureau Director Gen. Kim Su Gil (Kim Su-kil) delivered the eulogy.

In the eulogy, General Kim remarked that the “career of Kim Yong Chun was a glorious life in which he enjoyed the most worthy life as a revolutionary under the warm and special loving care of President Kim Il Sung (Kim Il-so’ng), leader Kim Jong Il (Kim Cho’ng-il) and Kim Jong Un and brilliant life of a prominent political activist and skillful military cadre faithful to the idea and leadership of the Party with his transparent revolutionary faith in the forefront for defending the leader, the revolution and the country. ”

General Kim stressed that “although Marshal Kim Yong Chun passed away, his exploits will remain long in the the history of the country.”

After the eulogy, the burial took place with funeral music and a gun salute.

Kim Jong Un participated in the burial during which he “spread earth on the remains with his bitter mind as he had lost the revolutionary comrade-in-arms boundlessly loyal to the Party.”  Kim Yong Chun’s family members and KPA high command officials also “spread earth on the remains.”

Floral wreaths from Kim Jong Un, the WPK Central Commitee, the WPK Central Military Commission, the SPA Presidium, the DPRK Cabinet, the Ministry of the People’s Armed Forces and KPA Large Combined Units were placed in front of the grave.

Jong Un “observed a moment’s silence in memory of Kim Yong Chun.”  Members of Marshal Kim’s family, senior DPRK officials of the state funeral committee and KPA officials also “observed a moment’s silence in memory of the deceased.”