Kim Yong-chol

ModernGeneralNorth Korea1946 — ?

Spymaster who negotiated with Trump.

Compare Kim Yong-chol with another historical figure:

Quick Facts

Born

1946

Country

North Korea

Era

Modern

Occupation

General

Score Overview

Military (10%)10

Political (20%)37

Influence (20%)52

Legacy (20%)38

Leadership (15%)51

Strategy (15%)40

Total Score40.6

Kim Yong-chol — Complete Timeline

2009 AD

Appointed Director of the Reconnaissance General BureauPolitical Action◆ Major

Kim Yong-chol was appointed Director of the Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB), North Korea's primary intelligence agency. He oversaw espionage operations and cyber warfare, including the alleged Sony Pictures hack in 2014.

North KoreaIntelligenceCyber Warfare

Impact: global

2018 AD

Led North Korea's delegation to the 2018 Winter OlympicsPolitical Action◆ Major

Kim Yong-chol led the North Korean delegation to the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. This was a key step in the inter-Korean rapprochement that led to the 2018 summit between Kim Jong-un and Moon.

North KoreaOlympicsDiplomacy

Impact: regionalconstructive

Negotiated with U.S. Secretary of State Mike PompeoPolitical Action◆ Major

Kim Yong-chol served as North Korea's chief negotiator in talks with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. He traveled to Washington D.C. and New York to discuss denuclearization and the planned summit between Kim Jong-un and President Trump.

North KoreaUS DiplomacyDenuclearization

Impact: global

2019 AD

Attended the Hanoi Summit with President TrumpPolitical Action◆ Major

Kim Yong-chol accompanied Kim Jong-un to the second U.S.-North Korea summit in Hanoi, Vietnam. He was a key advisor during the talks, which ultimately collapsed without an agreement on denuclearization and sanctions relief.

North KoreaUS SummitHanoi

Impact: global