Kim Yong-chol: Intelligence chief and his "lifetime roles"

Mr. Kim Yong Chol - the person the press calls "Leader Kim Jong-un's right-hand man". Photo AFP.

Not only that, all eyes are on the man whom the press calls “Leader Kim Jong-un’s right-hand man” and “the key man to the upcoming US-North Korea summit”. Not only is he known as “intelligence chief” but he is also a veteran diplomat who plays the role of negotiator with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Kim Yong-chol seems to be “performing” the most important roles in his life and career.

Mission of the century

Mr. Kim Yong-chol is considered "the key holder of the US-North Korea summit" Photo CNN

Amidst the many streams of information and the storms over the past time, it is not without reason that US President Donald Trump himself had to confirm the visit to the US of Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea Kim Yong-chol. On the social networking site Twitter, Mr. Trump had to make it clear that both sides - the US and North Korea - are actively promoting preparations for the summit between the two sides to take place as planned on June 12 in Singapore. This move clearly shows the respect that the US leader has for Mr. Kim Yong-chol personally as well as the upcoming historic US-North Korea summit.

General Kim Yong-chol has increasingly asserted his leading position in the DPRK government, especially in matters related to inter-Korean relations. Photo: AP

In fact, Mr. Kim Yong-chol is one of the individuals subject to US sanctions related to the North Korea issue, specifically being banned from entering the US. However, according to the US explanation, in special cases there will be exceptions. Therefore, the US has temporarily lifted the embargo on Mr. Kim Yong-chol so that this important figure can be present in New York to meet with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

According to observers, Mr. Kim Yong-chol is carrying a very important mission, which is to decide the success or failure of the US-North Korea summit by finalizing the agenda and the key contents of the meeting. This is not an easy task in the context that the US and North Korea have not yet been able to eliminate suspicion and that a summit meeting that has not actually taken place is still "hanging by a thread". In particular, the conditions and purposes of the parties are still very difficult to find common ground, with one side determined to denuclearize the Korean peninsula and the other side still seeking long-term and certain security and political guarantees.

Why Kim Yong-chol?

Mr. Kim Yong-chol is often present at important events of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Photo: Reuters

With such a big mission, in recent days, people have begun to look back at photos and videos related to this high-ranking North Korean official. And the public is not surprised that in all the photos of important events, such as the meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Chinese President Xi Jinping or US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo..., Mr. Kim Yong-chol's face always appears in an important position. Or at the recent 2018 Pyeong Chang Winter Olympics in South Korea, the North Korean delegation was also led by Mr. Kim Yong-chol.

Born in 1946, Senior General Kim Yong-chol has worked in the government of three generations of leaders in the DPRK. He has held many important positions in the government, military and intelligence forces throughout his career. Talented, flexible, tough, extremely proficient in nuclear-related issues..., are the characteristics that those who have come into contact with Mr. Kim Yong-chol have commented on. Although sharing the same surname Kim but not being related, Mr. Kim Yong-chol, with his own qualities and talents, has won the trust and confidence of generations of North Korean leaders.

He served in the North Korean military police force in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), was a bodyguard for the late leader Kim Jong-il, and was a spokesman for the Korean People's Army (KPA). He also participated in high-level inter-Korean dialogues in the early 1990s and was in charge of security for the summit between South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in 2000. During the period 2006 - 2008, Mr. Kim Yong-chol took on the role of Head of the North Korean delegation participating in military negotiations with the South Korean side... With such remarkable achievements, it is not difficult to understand why, up to now, Mr. Kim Yong-chol has become the top right-hand man of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, second only to his younger sister Kim Yo-jong.

From Controversial Figure to Peace Negotiator

Kim Yong-chol is a controversial figure.

Of course, in addition to his unparalleled success, Intelligence General Kim Yong-chol is also a controversial figure. He was once considered responsible for the sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan in 2010, killing 46 people, as well as the subsequent shelling of Yeonpyeong Island. Another controversy is that Mr. Kim Yong-chol was allegedly involved in North Korea's cyber attacks; including the attack on Sony Pictures in 2014 to prevent the release of the comedy "The Interview" with the plot to assassinate the North Korean leader. This controversial comedy at that time caused a storm in US-North Korea relations once again. Not only that, in terms of personality, some South Korean officials even said that Mr. Kim Yong-chol had shown many unfriendly expressions in negotiations and could hardly be a representative of North Korea to negotiate on issues of peace and cooperation...

Intelligence General Kim Yong-chol arrived in the United States in the most unusual way. Photo: REUTERS

However, despite these accusations, 4-star General Kim Yong-chol is still trusted to be the head of the North Korean intelligence agency and is now Vice Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea and Head of the Committee for Negotiations on Korean Affairs. Leading the delegation to the US this time, Mr. Kim Yong-chol is said to hold the "golden key", which is the reasonable negotiation terms that both sides can accept to pave the way for the upcoming US-North Korea summit. These could be joint US-South Korea military exercises, ways for North Korea to trust in the US's security commitment or the roadmap for North Korea's nuclear disarmament... These difficult problems have probably confused US President Donald Trump and made statements to cancel and then not cancel the US-North Korea summit as recently.

Therefore, this fact further confirms the important role of Senior General Kim Yong-chol in this visit to the US. It started with a friendly dinner with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. And if the visit ends with a press conference with many common points agreed upon, this will be another milestone in the career of “Intelligence Chief” Kim Yong-chol.