In 1927, Kim joined the Chinese Communist Party and the Anti-Japanese movement to oppose the Japanese occupation.

He lived in Khabarovsk where he met with Kim Il Sung and formed the 88th Special Brigade.

He was appointed number 2 Committee Vice Chairman in the Workers' Party of Korea.

[citation needed] A Japanese history of the Kim Il Sung family claims that Kim Chaek was purged when he was found responsible for the failure at the Inchon landing, and died in January 1951 after an American military air raid bombing or was assassinated following a power struggle.

[citation needed] He was awarded North Korea's National Reunification Prize in 1998.