General of the Army No Kwang-chol | |
|---|---|
| 노광철 | |
 | |
| Minister of Defence | |
| 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 | .svg){kind=icon} 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.
No was born in 1956.[2]
He was elected as a member of the Supreme People's Assembly following the2003 election and2009 election. In theSeptember 2010 Representative Conference, he was elected as an alternate (candidate) member of theCentral Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea. In December 2011, Kim Jong Il died and he was included as one of the members ofhis funeral committee.
In June 2018, he was promoted from first vice minister toMinister of People's Armed Forces.[3]
On June 12, 2018,Trump andKim Jong Unwere meeting inSingapore. 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 byKim Jong-gwan. From 12 April 2019 to 12 April 2020 he served as a member of theState Affairs Commission. Since his dismissal as minister, No reportedly headed a research institute under theGeneral Staff Department of the Korean People's Army, and was observed attending meetings including the enlarged meetings of theWPK 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]
In November 2024, No Kwang-Chol held talks with hisRussian counterpart,Andrei Belousov, meremonths after North Korean troops entered the 2022Russo-Ukrainian War.[6]
As North Korea's defense minister, No Kwang-Chol has faced multipleinternational sanctions for a variety of reasons, from thecountry's nuclear programme to itshuman rights abuses to, most notably, his role in the Russian Invasion Of Ukraine.
On December 16, 2024, No Kwang-Chol was sanctioned by the US,EU and South Korea over the role of North Korean troops in Ukraine.[6]
On February 24, 2025, the third anniversary of the 2022 Russian Invasion Of Ukraine, theBritishForeign Office placed him on a list of UK sanctions over his role in the sending of North Korean troops to fight on Russia's behalf in Ukraine.[6][7]
A picture of No shows him wearing the ribbons to all decorations awarded to him.
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| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Minister of People's Armed Forces 2018–2019 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Defence 2023–present | Incumbent |
