Born in China to ethnic Korean parents, Choe fought in the anti-Japanese struggle from a young age.

In North Korea, Choe assumed command of the highly strategic Kanggye Regiment of the 1st Division in the newly organized Korean People's Army (KPA).

After the war, Choe was given posts in the politics of North Korea, including the office of Minister of People's Armed Forces, which he held from 1968 until 1976.

During this time, several ex-guerrillas were purged (see Kapsan faction incident), but Choe maintained his position thanks to his personal relationship with Kim Il Sung.

[6] Upon his release, Choe joined the anti-Japanese guerrilla movement in July 1932 after Japanese conquered Manchuria.

[11] The Battle of Pochonbo in 1937 is highly important in the North Korean cult of personality of Kim Il Sung as its victory is attributed to him.

Some evidence, however, point to the conclusion that it was Choe Hyon, not Kim Il Sung, who commanded the troops that raided Pochonbo.

[6] The army led by Choe was one of the main targets of the Japanese during a phase of the Pacification of Manchukuo that began in 1939.

[13] Dennis Halpin concludes in The National Interest that "Choe Hyon may well have been the key leader in the anti-Japanese colonial struggle in Manchuria and along the Korean border".

As a member of the Central Military Commission of the WPK, Choe was one of "the seven most powerful men in North Korea".

With his post as the Minister of People's Armed Forces, Choe was "probably the most powerful individual in the military area other than Kim Il-sŏng himself".

Robert A. Scalapino and Chong-Sik Lee critically assess it as follows: "Though very revealing, some sections, particularly on his first encounters with Kim Il-sŏng, are so propagandistic as to be largely unreliable".

[35] A meeting with Choe inspired the poet Cho Ki-chon to write his epic poem, Mt.

A memorial service was held,[27] wreaths were laid at the Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery,[40] and the Korean Central News Agency published an article praising him.