1. Choe Hyon, known as Sai Ken, was a North Korean general and politician.
22 Facts About Choe Hyon
1. 2.
Choe Hyon became one of the most important military leaders of the armed resistance in Manchuria.
3.
In North Korea, Choe Hyon assumed command of the highly strategic Kanggye Regiment of the 1st Division in the newly organized Korean People's Army.
4.
Choe Hyon was born on 6 May 1907 in Hunchun, Jilin, China.
5.
Thereafter, Choe Hyon fought as a guerrilla in the anti-Japanese struggle.
6.
Choe Hyon rose to a leadership position in the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army of the Chinese, and became a member of the Chinese Communist Party.
7.
Choe Hyon fought in the Soviet 88th Brigade after the United Army retreated to Soviet.
8.
Choe Hyon reportedly led troops into battle in Musan and Gansanbong.
9.
The army led by Choe Hyon was one of the main targets of the Japanese during a phase of the Pacification of Manchukuo that began in 1939.
10.
Choe Hyon was a close associate of Kim Il Sung during their guerrilla years.
11.
Choe Hyon consequentially missed out on the supreme leadership of the country, but became part of its core elite nonetheless.
12.
Choe Hyon become the commander of the Kanggye Regiment of the 1st Division.
13.
Choe Hyon led the Military Liberation College that trained special forces.
14.
Additionally, Choe Hyon commanded the 2nd Division of the KPA and, during the Korean War, the II Corps.
15.
Choe Hyon rose in the ranks of the party in the late 1960s at a "spectacular" rate.
16.
Choe Hyon had been chairman of the party's Military Affairs Commission since 1965, but lacked a seat in the Political Committee, to which he was then appointed in October 1966 as a full member, skipping the usual stage of being an alternate member first.
17.
Choe Hyon lived in high-end neighborhood of Changkwang-dong, near Kim Il Sung's mansion.
18.
Choe Hyon became Minister of People's Armed Forces in late 1968, succeeding Choe Hyon Kwang, after serving as the vice minister first.
19.
Choe Hyon served as the minister until 1976, when O Jin-u replaced him "for health reasons".
20.
Choe Hyon became a member in the Politburo of the WPK at the 5th Congress of the WPK in 1970 and retained this position after the 6th Congress in 1980.
21.
Choe Hyon remained at the top of the military until the end of his career.
22.
Choe Hyon's life is chronicled in the 55th installment of the multi-part film Nation and Destiny.