# 6th Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea

The 6th Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) (6차 조선로동당 정치국), officially the Political Bureau of the 6th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, was elected by the 1st Plenary Session of the 6th Central Committee in the immediate aftermath of the 6th WPK Congress.

## Members
### 1st Plenary Session

| Symbol | Meaning |
| ‡ | Members of the Presidium of the Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea |
| # | Full members | Alternate members |
| 1. | ‡Kim Il Sung | Ho Dam |
| 2. | ‡Kim Il | Yun Gi-bok |
| 3. | ‡O Jin-u | Choe Kwang |
| 4. | ‡Kim Jong Il | Choe Se-ung |
| 5. | ‡Ri Jong-ok | Choe Jae-u |
| 6. | Pak Song-chol | Kong Jin-Tae |
| 7. | Choe Hyon | Chong Jun-gi |
| 8. | Lim Chum-chu | Kim Chol-man |
| 9. | So Chol | Chong Gyong-hi |
| 10. | Oh Baek-ryong | Choe Yong-rim |
| 11. | Kim Jung-rin | So Yun-sok |
| 12. | Kim Yong-nam | Ri Kun-mo |
| 13. | Chon Mun-sop | Hyon Mu-gwang |
| 14. | Kim Hwan | Kim Gang-hwan |
| 15. | Yon Hyong-muk | Lee Son-sil |
| 16. | Oh Guk-ryol | |
| 17. | Kye Ung-thae | |
| 18. | Kang Song-san | |
| 19. | Paek Hak-rim | |

### September 1998–September 2010

Politburo makeup (September 1998–September 2010) :
| Rank | Name | Member since | Party position(s) | State position(s) | Notes |
| 1 | Kim Jong Il | February 1974 | General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Chairman of the Central Military Commission Politburo Presidium Member Head of the Organization and Guidance Department | Chairman of the National Defence Commission Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army | |
| 2 | Li Jong-ok | September 1961 | | Honorary Vice President of the SPA Presidium | Died, 23 September 1999. |
| 3 | Jon Mun-sop | October 1980 | | Honorary Vice President of the SPA Presidium | Died, 29 December 1998. |
| 4 | Kim Yong-ju | December 1993 | | Honorary Vice President of the SPA Presidium | |
| 5 | Kim Yong-nam | August 1978 | | President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly | |
| 6 | Kye Ung-thae | October 1980 | Secretary for National Security | | Died, 23 November 2006. |
| 7 | Jon Pyong-ho | November 1988 | Secretary for Military Industry | Member of the National Defence Commission | |
| 8 | Kim Chol-man | May 1990 | Member of the Central Military Commission | Member of the National Defence Commission Chairman of the Second Economic Committee | Alternate Member |
| 9 | Choe Yong-rim | May 1990 | Chief Secretary of the WPK Pyongyang Committee (2009–2010) | Secretary General of the SPA Presidium (2006–2009) Chief Public Prosecutor (1998–2003) | Alternate Member |
| 10 | Choe Thae-bok | May 1990 | Secretary for Education and Science Education Affairs | Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly | Alternate Member |
| 11 | Yang Hyong-sop | December 1993 | | Vice President of the SPA Presidium | Alternate Member |
| 12 | Hong Sok-hyong | December 1993 | Chief Secretary of the WPK North Hamgyong Committee | | Alternate Member |

### September 2010–April 2012

Politburo makeup (September 2010–April 2012) :
| Rank | Name | Member since | Party position(s) | State position(s) | Notes |
| 1 | Kim Jong Il | February 1974 | General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Chairman of the Central Military Commission Politburo Presidium Member Head of the Organization and Guidance Department | Chairman of the National Defence Commission Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army | Died, 17 December 2011. |
| 2 | Kim Yong-nam | August 1978 | Politburo Presidium Member | President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly | |
| 3 | Choe Yong-rim | May 1990 | Politburo Presidium Member | Premier of North Korea | |
| 4 | Jo Myong-rok | September 2010 | Politburo Presidium Member Director of the KPA General Political Bureau | First Vice Chairman of the National Defence Commission | Died, 6 November 2010. |
| 5 | Ri Yong-ho | September 2010 | Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Politburo Presidium Member | Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army | |
| 6 | Kim Yong-chun | September 2010 | | Vice Chairman of the National Defence Commission Minister of the People's Armed Forces | |
| 7 | Jon Pyong-ho | November 1988 | Secretary of the WPK Cabinet Committee | Director of the Cabinet Political Bureau Member of the National Defence Commission | |
| 8 | Kim Kuk-thae | September 2010 | Chairman of the Central Control Commission | | |
| 9 | Kim Ki-nam | September 2010 | Secretary for Propaganda and Party History Director of the Central Propaganda and Agitation Department | Vice Chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland | |
| 10 | Choe Thae-bok | May 1990 | Secretary for Education and Science Affairs | Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly | |
| 11 | Yang Hyong-sop | December 1993 | | Vice President of the SPA Presidium Vice Chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland | |
| 12 | Kang Sok-ju | September 2010 | | Vice Premier | |
| 13 | Pyon Yong-rip | September 2010 | | Secretary General of the SPA Presidium | |
| 14 | Ri Yong-mu | September 2010 | | Vice Chairman of the National Defence Commission | |
| 15 | Chu Sang-song | September 2010 | | Member of the National Defence Commission Minister of People's Security | Dismissed, March 2011. |
| 16 | Hong Sok-hyong | September 2010 | Secretary for Planning Director of the Central Finance and Planning Department | | Dismissed, June 2011. |
| 17 | Kim Kyong-hui | September 2010 | Director of the Light Industry Department | | |
| 18 | Kim Yang-gon | September 2010 | Secretary for United Front Work Director of the Central United Front Work Department | Chairman of the Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee | Alternate Member |
| 19 | Kim Yong-il | September 2010 | Secretary for International Relations Director of the Central International Relations Department | | Alternate Member |
| 20 | Pak To-chun | September 2010 | Secretary for Military Industry | | Alternate Member |
| 21 | Jang Sung-taek | September 2010 | Director of the Central Administration Department | Vice Chairman of the National Defence Commission | Alternate Member |
| 22 | Ju Kyu-chang | September 2010 | Director of the Central Machine-Building Department | | Alternate Member |
| 23 | Ri Thae-nam | September 2010 | | Vice Premier | Alternate Member |
| 24 | Kim Rak-hui | September 2010 | | Vice Premier | Alternate Member |
| 25 | Thae Jong-su | September 2010 | Director of the Central General Affairs Department | | Alternate Member |
| 26 | Kim Phyong-hae | September 2010 | Director of the Central Cadres Department | | Alternate Member |
| 27 | U Tong-chuk | September 2010 | | Member of the National Defence Commission First Vice Minister of State Security | Alternate Member |
| 28 | Kim Jong-gak | September 2010 | First Vice Director of the KPA General Political Bureau | | Alternate Member |
| 29 | Pak Jong-sun | September 2010 | First Deputy Head of the Organization and Guidance Department | | Alternate Member Died, 22 January 2011. |
| 30 | Kim Chang-sop | September 2010 | Director of the Political Bureau of the Ministry of State Security | | Alternate Member |
| 31 | Mun Kyong-dok | September 2010 | Chief Secretary of the WPK Pyongyang Committee | | Alternate Member |

### April 2012–February 2015

Politburo makeup (April 2012–February 2015) :
| Rank | Name | Member since | Party position(s) | State position(s) | Notes |
| 1 | Kim Jong Un | April 2012 | First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Chairman of the Central Military Commission Politburo Presidium Member | First Chairman of the National Defence Commission Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army | |
| 2 | Kim Yong-nam | August 1978 | Politburo Presidium Member | President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly | |
| 3 | Choe Yong-rim | May 1990 | Politburo Presidium Member | Premier of North Korea | Demoted, March 2013. |
| 3* | Pak Pong-ju | March 2013 | | Premier of North Korea | Demoted, March 2013. |
| 4 | Choe Ryong-hae | April 2012 | Politburo Presidium Member Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (Apr 2012–Apr 2014) Director of the KPA General Political Bureau (Apr 2012–Apr 2014) Secretary for Workers' Organizations (from Apr 2014) Chairman of the State Sports and Physical Culture Guidance Commission (from Apr 2014) | Vice Chairman of the National Defence Commission (Apr–Sep 2014) | |
| 5 | Ri Yong-ho | September 2010 | Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Politburo Presidium Member | Chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army | Demoted, July 2012 |
| 6 | Jang Song-taek | September 2010 | Director of the Central Administration Department Chairman of the State Physical Culture and Sports Guidance Commission | Vice Chairman of the National Defence Commission Co-chair of the DPRK-China Joint Guidance Committee | Expelled, December 2013 |
| 7 | Kim Kyong-hui | September 2010 | Secretary for Light Industry | | Demoted, April 2014 |
| 8 | Kim Jong-gak | April 2012 | | Minister of the People's Armed Forces | Demoted, March 2013 |
| 9 | Kim Kuk-thae | September 2010 | Chairman of the Central Control Commission | | Died, December 2013 |
| 10 | Kim Ki-nam | September 2010 | Secretary for Propaganda and Party History Director of the Central Propaganda and Agitation Department | Vice Chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland | |
| 11 | Choe Thae-bok | May 1990 | Secretary for Education and Science Affairs | Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly | |
| 12 | Pak To-chun | September 2010 | Secretary for Military Industry | | |
| 13 | Yang Hyong-sop | December 1993 | | Vice President of the SPA Presidium Vice Chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland | |
| 14 | Kim Yong-chun | September 2010 | Director of the Central Civil Defence Department | Vice Chairman of the National Defence Commission | Demoted, April 2014 |
| 15 | Kang Sok-ju | September 2010 | | Vice Premier | |
| 16 | Ri Yong-mu | September 2010 | | Vice Chairman of the National Defence Commission | |
| 17 | Kim Won-hong | April 2012 | | Minister of State Security | |
| 18 | Hyon Chol-hae | April 2012 | | First Vice Minister of the People's Armed Forces Director of the KPA General Logistics Bureau | |
| 18 | Kim Kyok-sik | March 2013 | | Minister of the People's Armed Forces (Nov 2012–May 2013) Chief of the KPA General Staff (May–Aug 2013) | Alternate Member |
| 19 | Hyon Yong-chol | March 2013 | Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (Jul 2012–May 2013) | Chief of the KPA General Staff (Jul 2012–May 2013) Commander of the 5th Army Corps (May 2013–Jun 2014) Minister of the People's Armed Forces (Jun 2014–Apr 2015) | Alternate Member |
| 20 | Ri Yong-gil | April 2014 | | Chief of the KPA General Staff (from Aug 2013) | Alternate Member |
| 21 | Kim Yang-gon | September 2010 | Secretary for United Front Work Director of the Central United Front Work Department | Chairman of the Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee | Alternate Member |
| 23 | Choe Pu-il | April 2012 | | Minister of People's Security Chairman of the SPA Credentials Committee | Alternate Member |
| 24 | Kim Yong-il | September 2010 | Secretary for International Relations Director of the Central International Relations Department | | Alternate Member Demoted, April 2014 |
| 25 | Kim Phyong-hae | September 2010 | Secretary for Cadres Director of the Central Cadres Department | | Alternate Member |
| 26 | Kwak Pom-gi | April 2012 | Secretary for Finance Director of the Central Finance and Planning Department | Chairman of the SPA Budget Committee | Alternate Member |
| 27 | Mun Kyong-dok | September 2010 | Secretary of the Secretariat Chief Secretary of the WPK Pyongyang Committee | | Alternate Member Demoted, April 2014 |
| 28 | Ju Kyu-chang | September 2010 | Director of the Central Machine-Building Department | | Alternate Member |
| 29 | Kim Chang-sop | September 2010 | | Director of the Political Bureau of the Ministry of State Security | Alternate Member |
| 30 | Ro Tu-chol | April 2012 | | Vice Premier Chairman of the State Planning Commission | Alternate Member |
| 31 | Ry Pyong-sam | April 2012 | | Director of the Political Bureau of the Korean People's Internal Security Forces | Alternate Member |
| 32 | Jo Yon-jun | September 2010 | First Vice Director of the Central Organisation and Guidance Department | | Alternate Member |
| 33 | Thae Jong-su | September 2010 | Chief Secretary of South Hamgyong Party Committee | | Alternate Member |