He was born into a poor peasant's family in Sinhung County, South Hamgyong Province on Sept. 9, Juche 4 (1915) and suffered the grief and pain of statelessness in his early years. He was brought up to be an able military officer of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army under the care of President Kim Il Sung and made contribution to achieving the historic cause of the country's liberation.

He made noteworthy contribution to the founding of the party and the regular armed forces after liberation and during the Fatherland Liberation War he, holding the posts of divisional commander and army corps commander, devoted his all to implementing the strategic and tactical policies of the Supreme Command.

In the postwar period he, holding an important post of the people's armed forces, rendered devoted services for making the People's Army the revolutionary armed forces of the party devotedly defending the party and the leader and upholding the revolutionary cause of Juche with arms.

He upheld leader Kim Jong Il with loyalty with his invariable revolutionary faith and obligation.

A national meeting was attended by Kim Ki Nam, Pak Yong Sik, Yang Hyong Sop, officials of the party, armed forces and power bodies, working people's organizations, ministries and national institutions, service personnel, persons of distinguished services, officials and working people of institutions, enterprises and factories in Pyongyang and bereaved families of revolutionary martyrs.

Army General Pak Yong Sik, minister of the People's Armed Forces, in a report said:

Ryu was an ardent revolutionary fighter who safeguarded Kim Il Sung and carried out his orders and instructions at any cost. He was also a genuine revolutionary who kept the road of loyalty with firm revolutionary principle and integrity.

The reporter called for learning from the transparent revolutionary faith and indomitable fighting spirit of the anti-Japanese forerunners and carrying on the march of revolution that started on Mt. Paektu.