Kim Il-sung Biography

(President of North Korea from 1972 to 1994)

Birthday: April 15, 1912 (Aries)

Born In: Pyongyang, North Korea

Kim Il-Sung is known as the founder and first president of the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea. Kim was born to a small peasant family but they were soon forced to flee following the Japanese occupation of his homeland. After moving to China, Kim soon became radicalised and joined forces that were committed to defying the occupiers. Even as an early teen, he was involved with armed resistance activity and as a young man he was promoted to a leadership role. Driven by his anti-Japanese sentiments, he sided with the Soviet Union in the World War, where he trained and fought along with the Soviet soldiers against the Japanese. He eventually rose to the ranks of a leader in the Soviet military. At the end of the war, he was in a prime position to take over the mantle of leadership of his newly-liberated country. Seizing the opportunity, Kim and his forces soon overruled the entire peninsula but faced stiff resistance from foreign countries. After a bitter and devastating war, the peninsula was split in half and he became the undisputed leader of the northern half. Combining Communist and Marxist ideology with his own brand of Korean self-reliance, he soon forged himself as the shining leader of a new country. After ruling his country with an iron grip for half a century, the supreme leader passed away, leaving his country in the hands of a virtual monarchy.
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Quick Facts

Nick Name: The Great Leader, Eternal President

Also Known As: Kim Song-ju

Died At Age: 82

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Kim Jong-suk, Kim Sung-ae

father: Kim Hyong-jik

mother: Kang Pan-sok

siblings: Kim Chul Joo, Kim Yong-ju

children: Kim Jong-il, Kim Kyong-hui, Kim Kyong-Jin, Kim Man-il, Kim Pyong-il, Kim Yong-il

Presidents Political Leaders

Height: 5'9" (175 cm), 5'9" Males

political ideology: Workers’ Party of Korea

Died on: July 8, 1994

place of death: Hyangsan, North Korea

Ideology: Communists

Cause of Death: Heart Attack

Founder/Co-Founder: Workers' Party of Korea

  • 1

    When did Kim Il-sung become the leader of North Korea?

    Kim Il-sung became the leader of North Korea in 1948 following the establishment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
  • 2

    What is the Juche ideology promoted by Kim Il-sung?

    The Juche ideology, promoted by Kim Il-sung, emphasizes self-reliance, independence, and the belief that the Korean people should be the masters of their own destiny.
  • 3

    What was the significance of the Korean War in Kim Il-sung's leadership?

    The Korean War, which lasted from 1950 to 1953, solidified Kim Il-sung's leadership in North Korea and reinforced his image as a strong and capable leader who defended the country against outside aggression.
  • 4

    How did Kim Il-sung establish a cult of personality in North Korea?

    Kim Il-sung established a cult of personality by promoting himself as the "Great Leader" and portraying himself as a heroic figure who was uniquely capable of leading North Korea to prosperity and strength.
  • 5

    What impact did Kim Il-sung's policies have on North Korea's economy?

    Kim Il-sung's policies, including the emphasis on heavy industry and military development, contributed to the militarization of North Korea's economy and led to a focus on self-sufficiency at the expense of economic growth.
Childhood & Early Life
Kim Song-ju was born on April 15, 1912 in Mangyondae, Heian-nando, Japanese Korea. His mother is recorded as being named Kang Pan-sŏk.
Due to widespread propaganda during his reign, many details about his childhood and family were obscured. He, however, claimed that he was raised by a Presbyterian family and that his maternal grandfather was a minister.
In 1920, his family fled to prevent persecution by the Japanese conquerors. They resettled their family in Manchuria, now part of China.
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Career
Much of Kim's earlier career is obscured in propaganda. However, it is believed that he was a fervent anti-Japanese activist from his early teens.
In October 1926, he founded the 'Down With Imperialism Union'. This group's stated aim was to fight Japanese imperialism. Three years later, he joined the ‘South Manchurian Communist Youth Association’.
In 1932, he joined the ‘Communist Party of China’. At this time, Manchuria, where Kim lived, was still under Japanese rule.
In 1935, he joined the ‘Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army’. This was a guerilla offshoot of the Communist Party. Also in the same year, he adopted a nom de guerre of Kim Jong-Il. This is the name he would later be known by the rest of the world and his people.
In 1940, Kim and his troops were forced to flee as the Japanese forces advanced. They crossed the border into the Soviet Union to escape. He was soon being trained by the Soviet army.
Until the end of the war, he served as a major in the ‘Soviet Red Army’. In 1945, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan.
On August 15, 1945, the ‘Soviet Red Army’ entered Pyongyang and liberated it from the Japanese. Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union, soon appointed Kim to be the leader of the newly independent Korea.
On February 8, 1946, he officially became the chairman of the ‘Interim People's Committee’. This made him the de facto leader of Korea.
He declared the foundation of the ‘Democratic People's Republic of Korea’ on September 9, 1948. This is the official title of the nation of North Korea.
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On June 25, 1950, he ordered his forces to invade South Korea and capture the entirety of the peninsula. However, by October 19, American and South Korean troops had captured Pyongyang and forced him to flee to China.
Fighting continued until 1953, when a ceasefire between North and South Korea was signed. The agreement continues to be in force today.
In 1955, he invented 'Juche', his own religion and political ideology. He named political independence, economic self sustenance self reliance in defence, as the three pillars on which his ideology is developed.
In 1968, North Korean forces successfully captured the ‘USS Pueblo’ and her crew, an American naval vessel. The capture was a part of his strategy to disrupt the ruling Government which was backed by the US.
In 1972, he ordered a new constitution to take effect, making him the permanent president of the country. Prior to this, Kim had been an unelected leader.
In 1991, he successfully lobbied the United Nations to admit his country as a member nation. In the same year, he appointed his son as head of the military, whom he had named his successor.
In 1992, he negotiated a series of compromises with South Korea. These included a non-aggression pact and economic exchange. A year later, he reversed his earlier position. North Korea cut off all official contact with South Korea.
In 1994, Kim began a program of nuclear power development. He also ordered that work begin on developing a ballistic nuclear missile.
Kim died on July 8, 1994 shortly before a scheduled summit with the president of South Korea.
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Major Works
Kim Jong-Il has been the Eternal President of the Republic of North Korea since September 9, 1948, a position that he continues to hold posthumously. The autocratic leader was the architect of a political ideology ‘Juche’, which was inspired by the ideals of Stalin, the Russian dictator.
Personal Life & Legacy
Kim Jong-Il exchanged the nuptial vows with Kim Jong-suk, before World War II. She died in 1949. This marriage produced two sons, including Kim Jong-Il, who succeeded his father as president of North Korea. Kim's grandson Kim Jong-Un is the current leader of North Korea.
He married Kim Sung-ae, his second wife, in 1952. Reports indicate that they had three children.
This controversial dictator is rumored to have had many mistresses, including Kim Hyon-nam, and an unknown number of children from these relationships.
Facts About Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung was known for his unique fashion sense, often seen wearing his signature khaki jumpsuit and flat cap.
He was an avid hiker and enjoyed spending time in the mountains, where he would often hold meetings and discussions with his officials.
Kim Il-sung had a passion for literature and poetry, and even wrote several books and poems during his lifetime.
He was an accomplished military strategist, known for his tactical skills and leadership during the Korean War.
Kim Il-sung was a skilled orator and had a charismatic presence, which helped him maintain a strong hold on power for many years.

See the events in life of Kim Il-sung in Chronological Order

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- Kim Il-sung Biography
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