O Jin-u

O Jin-u
오진우
First Vice Chairmen of the National Defence Commission
In office
1993–1995
LeaderKim Il Sung
Kim Jong Il
Preceded byKim Jong Il
Succeeded byJo Myong-rok
Vice Chairmen of the National Defence Commission
In office
1972–1993
LeaderKim Il Sung
Kim Jong Il
Succeeded byRi Yong-mu
Member of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea
In office
1980–1995
LeaderKim Il Sung
Kim Jong Il
Minister of People's Armed Forces
In office
May 1976 – February 25, 1995
LeaderKim Il Sung
Kim Jong Il
Preceded byChoe Hyon
Succeeded byChoe Kwang
Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army
In office
December 1968 – September 1979
LeaderKim Il-sung
Preceded byChoe Kwang
Succeeded byO Kuk-ryol
In office
February 1988 – February 1995
Preceded byO Kuk-ryol
Succeeded byChoe Kwang
Director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army
In office
1967–1968
LeaderKim Il Sung
Kim Jong Il
In office
1979–1995
Succeeded byJo Myong-rok
Commander of the Supreme Guard Command
In office
1945–1946
LeaderKim Il Sung
Personal details
Born(1917-03-08)March 8, 1917
Kankyōnan-dō (South Hamgyong Province), Korea, Empire of Japan
DiedFebruary 25, 1995(1995-02-25) (aged 77)
Pyongyang, North Korea
Political party Workers' Party of Korea
Children
AwardsHero of the Republic (twice)
Order of Kim Il Sung (3 times)
Order of the National Flag (18 times)
Military service
Allegiance North Korea
Branch/serviceKorean People's Army
Years of service1933–1995
Rank Marshal of the Korean People's Army
Commands
Battles/wars
See battles
Korean name
Hangul
오진우
Hanja
Revised RomanizationO Jinu
McCune–ReischauerO Chinu

O Jin-u (Korean: 오진우; March 8, 1917 – February 25, 1995) was a North Korean general and politician. He was a close associate of Kim Il Sung. O served under Kim in the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army, and then as commander of Kim's bodyguard. He was a founding officer of the Korean People's Army (KPA), fought in the Korean War, and was a Vice-Chairman of the National Defence Commission from 1972 until dying in 1995. He was considered to be the most powerful person in North Korea after Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, a hardliner, and a strong supporter of North Korea's nuclear program.