Born into a poor peasant family in Kim Chaek City, North Hamgyong Province on September 14, Juche 10 (1921), Ri was an anti-Japanese revolutionary fighter and veteran revolutionary loyal to the WPK as he devoted his all to winning the victory in the cause of national and class liberation and developing the KPA into invincible revolutionary armed forces going in the military uniform of the revolution all his life at the outpost for devotedly defending the Party and leaders.

He dedicated his all to the sacred cause of liberating the country by participating in the glorious anti-Japanese armed struggle led by President Kim Il Sung in the dark period of the Japanese imperialist rule.

Holding important posts of the KPA after the liberation of the country, he protected Kim Il Sung with arms at the risk of his life and devoted himself to developing the KPA.

As regiment commander and vice division commander in charge of military affairs of the KPA during the Fatherland Liberation War, he made great contributions to beating back the U.S. imperialists' invasion and winning the victory in the war and performed distinguished feats in defending the Korean revolution as chief adjutant of Kim Il Sung.

Holding important posts of the guard unit and the supreme command after working as commanding officer of a combined unit and large combined units of the KPA after the war, he devoted himself to firmly establishing the unitary leadership of the supreme commander over the whole army, thoroughly implementing the Party's Juche-based military line and firmly guaranteeing the revolutionary cause of Juche and Songun with matchless military muscle.

He worked as alternate member of the Party Central Committee from October, Juche 55 (1966), member of the Party Central Committee from November, Juche 59 (1970), was elected deputy to the Supreme People's Assembly from Juche 51 (1962), worked as member of the Party Central Military Commission from October, Juche 69 (1980) to September, Juche 99 (2010) and member of the National Defence Commission from May, Juche 79 (1990) to September, Juche 92 (2003).

He was awarded three Orders of Kim Il Sung, Order of Kim Jong Il, watches bearing the august name of Kim Il Sung, title of Twice Hero of the DPRK, title of Labor Hero and other high commendations of the Party and the state for the distinguished feats he performed for the Party, the revolution, the country and its people.

He was awarded the title of the KPA Marshal in October, Juche 84 (1995).

An obituary of Ri Ul Sol was published on Nov. 7 in the joint name of the Central Committee of the WPK, the WPK Central Military Commission, the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK.

The obituary said that though Ri passed away, the exploits he performed for the Party, the revolution, the country and its people would shine forever with the triumphant advance of the revolutionary cause of Juche.

That day the Central Committee of the WPK, the WPK Central Military Commission, the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK announced that the deceased would be accorded a state funeral and formed the state funeral committee with supreme leader Kim Jong Un as chairman of the committee and 170 persons including Kim Yong Nam as members of the committee.

The funeral committee said that the coffin would be laid at the Central Hall of Workers and it would receive mourners from 16:00 on November 8 to 19:00 on November 10 and the coffin would be carried out of the hall at 09:00 on November 11.