''Ch'asu'' () is a superior
military rank
Military ranks is a system of hierarchy, hierarchical relationships within armed forces, police, Intelligence agency, intelligence agencies, paramilitary groups, and other institutions organized along military organisation , military lines, such ...
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 Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu River, Yalu (Amnok) an ...
, often translated as Vice Marshal. The rank is senior to that of ''
Daejang
Jiang ( formerly romanized chiang and usually translated general) is a general officer rank used by China and Taiwan. It is also used as jang in North and South Korea, shō in Japan, and tướng in Vietnam.
Chinese People's Liberation Army
T ...
'' (General) and junior to that of ''
Wonsu
is the highest military rank in the armed forces of Korean People's Army, North Korea and Republic of Korea Army, South Korea.
Historical
The title of ''Wonsu'' or its variations had been used as the title of high-ranking military commanders ...
'' (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 National Emblem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is one of the national symbols of North Korea. Prominent features on the emblem are a red star, a hydroelectric plant (the Sup'ung Dam) and Mount Paektu. The design bears simi ...
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).
[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
{{italictitle
Military ranks of North Korea