No Kwang-chol

노광철Minister of DefenceIn office
4 June 2018 – December 2019Supreme LeaderKim Jong UnPreceded byPak Yong-sikSucceeded byKim Jong-gwan Personal detailsBorn1956 (age 67–68)
Nampo, North KoreaPolitical partyWorkers' Party of KoreaMilitary serviceAllegiance North KoreaBranch/service Korean People's ArmyRank GeneralKorean nameChosŏn'gŭlHanchaRevised RomanizationNo GwangcheolMcCune–ReischauerNo Kwangch'ŏl

No Kwang-chol (Korean: 노광철; Hanja: 努光鐵; born 1956^[1]) is a North Korean soldier, a four-star general, and a member of the political bureau.^[2]

Biography

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] In December 2019 he was replaced by Kim Jong-gwan. Between April 2019 to April 2020 he served as a member of the State Affairs Commission.

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]}

Awards and honors

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

References

Political offices
Preceded by Pak Yong-sik	Minister of People's Armed Forces 2018–December 2019	Succeeded by Kim Jong-gwan