Ch'asu is a superior military rank of North Korea, often translated as Vice Marshal. The rank is senior to that of Daejang (General) and junior to that of Wonsu (Marshal). The rank is seldom bestowed upon the professional military, and appears to be rather a combined political-military position.
The insignia for a chasu is superimposing a North Korean national crest upon a marshal's insignia star in the shoulder epaulette. Formerly, insignia for such rank holders was the emblem of North Korea until the present insignia was released in 1985.
The rank is often transliterated as ch'asu, showing the difference with the Korean word for embroidery, usually transliterated as chasu (자수).
List of North Korean vice-marshals
| Vice Marshal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea조선민주주의인민공화국 차수 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Vice Marshal | Date of promotion | Notes | |
| Choe Yong-gon최용건1900–1976 | 7 February 1953 | ||
| Vice Marshal of the Korean People's Army조선인민군 차수 | |||
| Vice Marshal | Date of promotion | Notes | |
| O Jin-u오진우1917–1995 | 14 April 1985 | Promoted to Marshal of the Korean People's Army on 20 April 1992. | |
| Ju To-il주도일1922–1994 | 20 April 1992 | ||
| Ri Ul-sol리을설1921–2015 | 20 April 1992 | Promoted to Marshal of the Korean People's Army on 8 October 1995. | |
| Choe Kwang최광1918–1997 | 20 April 1992 | Promoted to Marshal of the Korean People's Army on 8 October 1995. | |
| Choe In-dok최인덕1920–2003 | 20 April 1992 | ||
| Paek Hak-rim백학림1918–2006 | 20 April 1992 | ||
| Ri Tu-ik리두익1921–2002 | 20 April 1992 | ||
| Kim Pong-ryul김봉률1917–1995 | 20 April 1992 | ||
| Kim Kwang-jin김광진1927–1997 | 20 April 1992 | ||
| Kim Ik-hyon김익현1916–2009 | 15 April 1994 | ||
| Jo Myong-rok조명록1928–2010 | 8 October 1995 | Promoted from Air Force | |
| Ri Ha-il리하일1935–2010 | 8 October 1995 | ||
| Kim Yong-chun김영춘1936–2018 | 8 October 1995 | Promoted to Marshal of the Korean People's Army on 14 April 2016. | |
| Kim Il-chol김일철1933–2023 | 13 April 1997 | Promoted from People's Navy | |
| Jon Jae-son전재선born 1940 | 13 April 1997 | ||
| Pak Ki-so박기서1929–2010 | 13 April 1997 | ||
| Ri Jong-san리종산1922–2011 | 13 April 1997 | ||
| Kim Ryong-yon김룡연1916–2008 | 7 September 1998 | ||
| Ri Yong-mu리용무1925–2022 | 7 September 1998 | ||
| Jang Song-u장성우1933–2009 | 13 April 2002 | ||
| Ri Yong-ho리영호born 1942 | 27 September 2010 | ||
| Kim Jong-gak김정각born 1941 | 15 February 2012 | ||
| Choe Ryong-hae최룡해born 1950 | 7 April 2012 | ||
| Hyon Chol-hae현철해1934–2022 | 7 April 2012 | Promoted to Marshal of the Korean People's Army on 14 April 2016. | |
| Hyon Yong-chol현영철1949–2015 | 16 July 2012 | Demoted to Army General in October 2012. | |
| Hwang Pyong-so황병서born 1949 | 26 April 2014 | ||
| Ri Myong-su리명수born 1934 | 14 April 2016 | ||
| Pak Jong-chon박정천 | 23 May 2020 | Promoted to Marshal of the Korean People's Army on 5 October 2020. Since demoted back to Chasu and repromoted back to Wonsu. | |
| Kim Jong-gwan김정관 | 24 February 2021 | Demoted to Army General in June 2021. | |
| Kwon Yong-jin권영진 | 24 February 2021 | Demoted to Army General by February 2022. | |
| Ri Yong-gil리명수born 1955 | 14 April 2022 | ||
References
Korea newsreview - Volume 25 Page 29 1996 "Korean Heritage Chasu, or embroidery, appears to have begun in the prehistoric era when the human race first started to make clothes." ↩