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Jang Song-thaek

Jang Song-thaek
장성택
張成澤
Jang Sung-taek.jpg
Vice Chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea
In office
7 June 2010 – 8 December 2013
Serving with
Leader Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-un
Chairman of the State Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission of the Workers' Party
In office
4 November 2012 – 8 December 2013
Premier Pak Pong-ju
Preceded by New position
Succeeded by Choe Ryong-hae
Chief of the Central Administrative Department of Workers' Party
In office
October 2007 – 8 December 2013
General secretary
First secretary
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-un
Preceded by New position
Personal details
Born (1946-01-22)22 January 1946
Chongjin, North Hamgyong Province, Soviet Korea
Died 12 December 2013(2013-12-12) (aged 67)
Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Political party Workers' Party of Korea
expelled 2013
Spouse(s) Kim Kyong-hui
Relations
Jang Song-thaek
Chosŏn'gŭl 장성택
Hancha
Revised Romanization Jang Seong-taek
McCune–Reischauer Chang Sŏng-t'aek

Jang Song-thaek (pronounced [tɕaŋ sʰʌŋtʰɛk]; also romanized as Jang Sung-taek, Chang Sŏng-t'aek and other variations; January or February 1946 – 12 December 2013) was a leading figure in the government of North Korea. He was married to Kim Kyong-hui, the only daughter of former North Korean supreme leader Kim Il-sung, the only sister of former North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong-il and the aunt of Kim Jong-un, the supreme leader of North Korea.

Although the precise extent of Jang Song-thaek's power and position during his life cannot be confirmed, in 2008 South Korean government officials and academic North Korea experts suggested that he had taken on de facto leadership over North Korea while Kim Jong-il's health was declining and when Kim subsequently died. Jang was vice-chairman of the National Defence Commission, a position considered second only to that of the Supreme Leader. He is believed to have been promoted to four-star general around the time of Kim Jong-il's death as his first appearance in uniform was while visiting Kim lying in state. Jang was considered a "key policy adviser" to Kim Jong-un.

In December 2013, Jang was abruptly accused of being a counter-revolutionary and was stripped of all his posts and expelled from the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK). His photos were removed from official media and his image digitally removed from photos with other North Korean leaders. On 13 December, North Korea state media announced he had been executed. There have been external reports that many members of his family have also been killed.


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