Paek Hak-rim

Who was Paek Hak-rim?

Paek Hak-rim was the Deputy Director of the North Korean Ministry of Public Security. He occupied a number of high-ranking positions, including serving from 1998 to 2003 on the National Defense Commission. He was also the Minister of Public Security from 2000 to 2003.

Paek was born in South Pyongan province, and served in the guerrilla armies of the Korean independence movement before 1945. He also served in the North Korean army after independence, reaching the rank of Major General in 1958 and Lieutenant General in 1962. He became Vice Marshal in 1992.

He has been a delegate to the Supreme People's Assembly following the 4th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th elections. He joined the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in 1970, and served on that body continuously beginning in 1980.

Paek died of a brain hemorrhage on at 2 PM on October 5, 2006. The following day a wreath was sent to his funeral by Kim Jong-il, and laudatory obituaries were distributed through the North Korean media.