''Ch'asu'' () is a superior
military rank
Military ranks are a system of hierarchy, hierarchical relationships, within armed forces, police, intelligence agencies or other institutions organized along military lines. The military rank system defines dominance, authority, and responsibi ...
of
North Korea
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu (Amnok) and ...
, often translated as Vice Marshal. The rank is senior to that of ''
Daejang'' (General) and junior to that of ''
Wonsu
''Wonsu'' is the highest military rank in the armed forces of North Korea and South Korea.
Historical
The title of ''Wonsu'' or its variations had been used as the title of high-ranking military commanders in Korean history since Goryeo Dynasty ...
'' (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
The emblem of North Korea is a national symbol adopted in 1993 by the state. Its design is modified from the former version in use from the founding of North Korea in 1948. Prominent features on the emblem are a red star, a hydroelectric pla ...
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'' (
:wikt:자수).
[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."]
List of North Korean vice-marshals
References
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Military ranks of North Korea