Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (North Korea)

The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (Korean: 체신성) is a government ministry in North Korea which is responsible for the North Korean postal service, telephone system, and media such as television and print press. Additionally, the ministry is responsible for mint stamps. In 2010, the ministry participated in a cyber-attack on South Korea using an IP address leased from China.^[3] The ministry is a member of the International Telecommunication Union^[1] and the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity.^[4]

Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications

조선민주주의인민공화국 체신성
Agency overview
Formed	April 8
Jurisdiction	North Korea
Headquarters	Oesong-dong,[1] Central District, Pyongyang[2]
Agency executive	Ju Yong Il, Minister
Parent agency	Cabinet of North Korea
Child agency	North Korean postal service

Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications
Hangul	체신성
Hanja	遞信省
RR	Chesinseong
MR	Ch'esinsŏng

The current minister is Ju Yong Il. Before that was Kim Kwang-chol,^[5] who was preceded by Sim Chol-ho, and Sim was appointed to the post in February 2012.^[6] Sim was reported executed in a February 2016 article.^[7]

Former ministers

• Kim Jong-ju: September 2, 1948 ~   ?
• Pak Il-u: March 1953 - November 28, 1955
• Chang-Hum Kim: November 29, 1955 ~ September 19, 1957
• Jun jun Ko September 20, 1957 ~ April 24, 1958 Choi Hyun April 24, 1958 ~ October 22, 1962
• Park Young-soon October 23, 1962 ~ December 16, 1967 Park Young-soon December 16, 1967 ~ December 27, 1967
• Kim Young-chae December 15, 1977 – 1980 Kim Young-chae 1980 ~ April 4, 1982, April 5, 1982 ~ December 28, 1986, December 29, 1986 ~
• Changho Kim May 24, 1990 ~
• Ri Kum Bom: September 5, 1998^[8] ~ 2003^[9]
• Lee Geum-bum: September 5, 2000 ~ 2002
• Lee Geum-beom: 2002 ~ September 2, 2003, September 3, 2003 ~ July 2005
• Ryu Yong-sop (2005 英 燮): July 2005 ~ January 2009
• Sim Chol-ho: February 2012 ~ 2015
• Kim Kwang-chol: 2015 ~ 2021^[10]
• Ju Yong Il: January 17, 2021 ~ Present^[11]

International

North Korea & China

North Korea	China	Place	Date	Name of Agreement	Basic Content	Effective from	Expire at
Posts and Telecommunications Bureau of the People's Committee of North Korea	General Posts and Telecommunications Administration of the Northeast Administrative Committee of the Republic of China (zh)	Pyongyang	Dec 18, 1947	Provisional Agreement on Postal and Telecommunications Services Between the Northeast Liberated Area of the Republic of China and North Korea	The types of mail handled include ordinary letters, postcards, newspapers, printed matter, and single-registered mail. The Chinese exchange offices are located in Andong, Ji'an, and Tumen. The accessible locations in North Korea include Pyongyang, Uiju, Sinuiju, Hwangju, Haeju, Wonsan, Pukchong, Chongjin, Hoeryong, Rajin, and other places.[12][13]	Jan 1, 1948[13][14]	Feb 1, 1950
				Rules for the Implementation of the Provisional Agreement on Postal and Telecommunication between the Northeast Liberated Area of the Republic of China and North Korea
Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea	Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the People's Republic of China	Beijing	Dec 25, 1949	Agreement on Postal Services Between the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea	Opening up the exchange of ordinary (Chinese: 普通) and special (Chinese: 特种) mail. The two countries' mail exchanges are designated to be exchanged by the post offices of Tumen and Namyang, Ji'an and Manpo, plus Andong and Sinuiju, with each party sending staff to the other party's post office every other day. The time for exchanging mail is set from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. every day. [15]	Feb 1, 1950	Jul 1, 1957
Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea	Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the People's Republic of China	Beijing	Dec 25, 1949	Additional Protocol to the Agreement on Postal Services Between the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea	Since there is currently no exchange rate for the currencies of the two countries, the compensation amount shall be temporarily handled in accordance with the compensation rules for lost domestic items.[16]
Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea	Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the People's Republic of China	Beijing	Dec 25, 1949	Agreement on Telegraphic Communication between the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea	Telegram access types, lines, and maintenance methods[17]
Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea	Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the People's Republic of China	Beijing	Dec 25, 1949	Agreement on Wired Telephone Communications between the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea	Types of wired telephone services, lines, and maintenance methods[18]
Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea	Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the People's Republic of China	Beijing	Dec 25, 1949	Additional Protocol to the Agreement on Telegraph and Wired Telephone Communications between the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea	Method of calculating and exchanging fees between the two parties[19]
Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea	Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the People's Republic of China	Beijing	May 31, 1952	Appendix: Protocol on the Addition, Revision and Amendment to the Agreements on Postal Services, Telegram Communication and Wired Telephone Communication Between the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and Their Additional Protocols	Further clarify the rate standards and handling methods[20]	Jul 1, 1952	Jul 1, 1957
Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea	Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the People's Republic of China	Beijing	Mar 30, 1954	Agreement on the Exchange of Postal Parcels Between the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea	Opening up the exchange of ordinary postal packages[21]	May 1, 1954	Jul 1, 1957
Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea	Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the People's Republic of China	Pyongyang	Jun 7, 1957	Postal Agreement Between the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea	It specifies the exchange methods for standard-compliant mail items (including letters, postcards, newspapers, printed paper, literature for the blind, commercial samples, and official documents), insured letters, parcels, as well as the details of rate allocation and settlement insured parcels.[22]	Jul 1, 1957	Effective
Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea	Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the People's Republic of China	Pyongyang	Jun 7, 1957	Telecommunications Agreement between the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea	It specifies the types of telegraph and telephone services offered and details the cost sharing and settlement.[23]
Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea	State Post Bureau of the People's Republic of China	Beijing	May 26, 2000	Agreement on Strengthening Cooperation in the Postal Field Between the State Post Bureau of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea	Handle the mail exchange business between the two countries in accordance with the Beijing Universal Postal Convention of 1999 and its letter and parcel regulations; to set up additional exchange offices in Hunchun and 元正 (DPRK side, English name unknown); to open postal remittance business; to use special drawing rights for settlement; and to study the feasibility of launching international express mail service (EMS). [24]	May 26, 2000	Effective

See also

• Cabinet of North Korea
• North Korean postal service
• Telecommunications in North Korea