Kim Myong-chol (김명철, born 1944 [1]) is a Korean writer and editor based in Japan and an unofficial spokesperson of North Korea, [2] regularly travelling to Pyongyang and around the world portraying the North Korean leadership and politics. He was a close associate of Kim Jong-il. [3] His articles have appeared in many publications, including Asia Times and Asia Research. Among the several books that he has written is Kim Jong-il — Military Strategy for Reunification. [4] His books have been banned in South Korea. [5] Currently, he is the Executive Director of CFKAP (Center for Korean-American Peace), based in Tokyo, Japan. He holds North Korean nationality and a North Korean diplomatic passport. [6]
He has claimed variously that "North Korea has all types of nuclear bombs and warheads, atomic, hydrogen and neutron, and the means of delivery, short-range, medium-range and long-range, putting the whole of the continental US within effective range" and that "[u]nlike all the previous wars Korea fought, a next war will be better called the American War or the DPRK-US War because the main theater will be the continental US, with major cities transformed into towering infernos." [7] Additionally, he has threatened Australia with similar results, stating "[i]f Australia becomes part of American manipulation against North Korea, North Korea reserve the right to strike back on Australia". [8]