April 26, 2024
Analysis

Lee Ul Sol: Last of N. Korea’s original partisans

94-year-old's career, medal count shows how Pyongyang values absolute, obsequious loyalty

On Saturday Lee Ul Sol, twice the Hero of the DPRK, Labor Hero of the DPRK, bearer of three orders of Kim Il Sung, of the order of Kim Jong Il, of 15 orders of the National Banner (first class) and of 10 orders of Freedom and Independence, died at the age of 94.

The deceased was also holding the rank of marshal, although many think that there is only one marshal in the DPRK – Kim Jong Un. The young Kim is often just called “the Marshal,” and everyone understands that we are talking about him.

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