U Tong-chuk

Who is U Tong-chuk?

U Tong-chuk is a North Korean official. He is politburo member of Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea. In addition, he was head of State Security Department from 2009 to 2012. After February 2012, he disappeared from public after attending celebrations for late leader Kim Jong-il's birthday.

According to official North Korean state media, U graduated from Kim Il-sung University with a philosophy degree. He later served in a number of minor posts in the Organization Guidance Department of the Workers' Party of Korea before being moved to a leading position in the Ministry of State Security in the 1990s. He was promoted to colonel-general, member of the National Defence Commission, and first vice-minister of State Security in 2009. This put him in charge of the ministry and gave him access to the country's top echelon, as the ministry was reportedly under Kim Jong-il directly, and he accompanied Kim Jong-il on a number of tours and official events, including a dinner with former US President Bill Clinton. On 28 September 2010, the 3rd Party Conference elevated him to member of the Politburo and the Central Military Commission; the day before he had been promoted to general of the Korean People's Army.