List of leaders of North Korea - wikipedia List of leaders of North Korea North Korea This article is part of a series on the politics and government of North Korea Constitution Juche ( state ideology ) Songun ( `` military - first '' policy ) Eternal Leaders Kim Il - sung Kim Jong - il Workers ' Party Chairman : Kim Jong - un Congress ( 7th ) Charter Central Committee ( 7th ) Politburo Standing Committee Executive Policy Bureau Central Military Commission Chairman : Kim Jong - un Organization and Guidance Department Propaganda and Agitation Department United Front Department Kimilsungist - Kimjongilist Youth League State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong - un Korean People 's Army Supreme Commander : Kim Jong - un Government Cabinet Premier : Pak Pong - ju Judiciary Supreme Court Legislature President : Kim Yong - nam Presidium Elections Recent elections Parliamentary : 2003 2009 2014 Local : 2007 2011 2015 Administrative divisions First - level Provinces Special cities Second - level Third - level Eup ( city ) Dong ( neighborhood ) Ri ( village ) Rodonjagu ( workers ' district ) Foreign relations Minister of Foreign Affairs Diplomatic missions of North Korea to North Korea Passport Visa requirements Korean conflict Korean reunification Related topics Censorship Human rights Kim dynasty Propaganda Illicit activities Law Enforcement Security Ministry Other countries Atlas This article lists the political leaders of North Korea, officially called the Democratic People 's Republic of Korea ( DPRK ). Contents 1 Overview 2 Supreme Leader of the DPRK 2.1 Generations of leadership : 3 Leaders of the Workers ' Party of Korea ( WPK ) 4 Heads of state 5 Heads of government 6 Heads of parliament 7 Heads of the military 8 See also 9 References 10 External links Overview At the end of World War II, the Soviet Union occupied the northern half of Korea and in 1946 established the Provisional People 's Committee for North Korea chaired by Kim Il - sung. On 9 September 1948, the DPRK was proclaimed, also led by Kim Il - sung. The supreme leaders of the DPRK have been Kim Il - sung, his son Kim Jong - il, and his grandson Kim Jong - un. In this role they have not held consistent titles, though they were each leaders of the Workers ' Party of Korea ( WPK ) -- titled as Chairman from 1948 to 1966, General Secretary from 1966 to 2011, First Secretary from 2011 to 2016, and finally Chairman again since 2016 -- for almost all of their period in power. Even though they have the appearance of a dynasty, succession is informal. From 1948 to 1972, the nominal head of state was the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People 's Assembly ( SPA ). In 1972, the constitution was amended to create an executive presidency. Kim Il - sung, who had served as Premier of North Korea since the DPRK 's inception, was unanimously elected President of North Korea by the Supreme People 's Assembly on December 28. He held this office until his death on 8 July 1994 when he was proclaimed the `` Eternal President of the Republic ''. Since then, the practical functions of the head of state have been exercised by the President of the Presidium of the SPA. After the death of Kim Il - sung, his son Kim Jong - il was understood to have inherited his father 's near - absolute control over the country. Although he had been his father 's designated successor since at least 1991, it took him three years to fully consolidate his power. He was elected general secretary of the party in 1997, and was reelected Chairman of the National Defence Commission ( NDC ) in 1998. During his rule he was given a range of titles. He ruled the country until his death on 17 December 2011. He was succeeded by his son, Kim Jong - un, who was revealed to be in charge of the country since his father 's death by the Rodong Sinmun and finally publicly acknowledged as supreme leader at the military review ending Kim Jong - il 's funeral on 29 December 2011. The government is headed by the Premier of the Cabinet, formerly called Premier of the Administration Council. Other important institutions include the SPA, whose sessions are chaired by the Chairman of the Supreme People 's Assembly, and, since 1993, the Chairman of the NDC -- since 2016, known as the State Affairs Commission -- which holds supreme command of the DPRK 's armed forces. While two other parties, the Korean Social Democratic Party and the Chondoist Chongu Party, nominally exist, only the WPK holds any power at the national level. The other parties, and indeed all other mass organizations in the country, are completely subservient to the WPK. They exist solely to keep up the appearance that the country is a pluralist society. Almost nothing is mentioned about the minor parties except the names of their current leaders. Since 1997, the SPA chairman, premier and NDC / SAC chairman have officially formed a triumvirate heading the executive branch, with powers equivalent to one - third of a president 's powers in other presidential systems. The SPA chairman conducts foreign affairs and receives the credentials of ambassadors, the premier handles domestic policy and the NDC / SAC chairman commands the armed forces. In practice, however, the real power is vested in the SAC chairman ( who has also been leader of the WPK ), an office constitutionally defined as the `` highest post in the state. '' Supreme leader of the DPRK The Constitution of North Korea has recognized the title `` Supreme Leader '' since 2009, when the Chairman of the National Defence Commission was formally designated as `` the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People 's Republic of Korea '' ( Korean : 조선 민주주의 인민 공화국 의 최고 지도자 ). It was slightly amended in 2012, with `` Chairman '' replaced by `` First Chairman. '' It was further amended in 2016 to reflect the replacement of the NDC with the State Affairs Commission. Generations of leadership : First generation Second generation Third generation Bold offices refer to the highest position in the Workers ' Party of Korea Picture Name Offices held Period Ideology Kim Il - sung 김일성 ( 1912 -- 1994 ) Supreme Commander of the KPA 8 February 1948 -- 24 December 1991 9 September 1948 ↓ 8 July 1994 ( 45 years, 302 days ) Juche ( Ten Principles ) Premier of the Cabinet of the DPRK 9 September 1948 -- 28 December 1972 Chairman of the Central Committee of the WPK 30 June 1949 -- 11 October 1966 Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK 26 June 1950 -- 8 July 1994 General Secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK 11 October 1966 -- 8 July 1994 President of the DPRK 28 December 1972 -- 8 July 1994 Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK 28 December 1972 -- 9 April 1993 Eternal President of the DPRK 5 September 1998 -- Incumbent Kim Jong - il 김정일 ( 1941 -- 2011 ) Supreme Commander of the KPA 24 December 1991 -- 17 December 2011 8 July 1994 ↓ 17 December 2011 ( 17 years, 162 days ) Juche Songun ( Ten Principles ) Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK 9 April 1993 -- 17 December 2011 General Secretary of the WPK 8 October 1997 -- 17 December 2011 Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK Eternal General Secretary of the WPK 11 April 2012 -- Incumbent Eternal Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK 13 April 2012 -- 29 June 2016 Kim Jong - un 김정은 ( born 1983 ) Supreme Commander of the KPA 30 December 2011 -- Incumbent 17 December 2011 ↓ Incumbent ( 6 years, 313 days ) Juche Songun ( Ten Principles ) First Secretary of the WPK 11 April 2012 -- 9 May 2016 Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the WPK 11 April 2012 -- Incumbent First Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK 13 April 2012 -- 29 June 2016 Chairman of the WPK 9 May 2016 -- Incumbent Chairman of the State Affairs Commission 29 June 2016 -- Incumbent Leaders of the Workers ' party of Korea ( WPK ) Main article : Chairman of the Workers ' Party of Korea Flag of the Workers ' Party of Korea No. Picture Name ( Birth -- Death ) Took office Left office Political Party Kim Tu - bong ( 1889 -- 1958 ) 28 August 1946 30 June 1949 WPNK Kim Il - sung ( 1912 -- 1994 ) 30 June 1949 11 October 1966 WPK General Secretary of the Central Committee ( 2 ) Kim Il - sung ( 1912 -- 1994 ) 11 October 1966 8 July 1994 WPK General Secretary of the Party Kim Jong - il ( 1941 -- 2011 ) 8 October 1997 Incumbent ( deceased ; see explanation below ) WPK First Secretary of the Party Kim Jong - un ( born 1983 ) 11 April 2012 9 May 2016 WPK Chairman of the Party ( 4 ) Kim Jong - un ( born 1983 ) 9 May 2016 Incumbent WPK Kim Jong - il died on 17 December 2011, but has since been posthumously named the `` Eternal General Secretary ''. Thus his son and successor as leader, Kim Jong - un, was not given the title of General Secretary. Heads of state Main article : List of heads of state of North Korea This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( September 2018 ) No. Picture Name ( Birth -- Death ) Took office Left office Political Party Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People 's Assembly Kim Tu - bong ( 1889 -- 1958 ) 9 September 1948 20 September 1957 WPNK / WPK Choe Yong - gon ( 1900 -- 1976 ) 20 September 1957 28 December 1972 WPK President of the Republic Kim Il - sung ( 1912 -- 1994 ) 28 December 1972 Incumbent ( deceased ; see explanation below ) WPK President of the Presidium of the Supreme People 's Assembly Yang Hyong - sop ( born 1925 ) 8 July 1994 5 September 1998 WPK 5 Kim Yong - nam ( born 1928 ) 5 September 1998 Incumbent WPK Kim Il - sung died on 8 July 1994, but has since 1998 been posthumously named the `` Eternal President of the Republic ''. Thus his son and successor as leader, the late Kim Jong - il, was not given the title of President and the President of the Presidium of the Supreme People 's Assembly became de jure head of state. Heads of government Main article : Premier of North Korea This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( September 2018 ) No. Picture Name ( Birth -- Death ) Took office Left office Political Party Premier of the Cabinet Kim Il - sung ( 1912 -- 1994 ) 9 September 1948 28 December 1972 WPNK / WPK Premier of the Administration Council Kim Il ( 1910 -- 1984 ) 28 December 1972 29 April 1976 WPK Pak Song - chol ( 1913 -- 2008 ) 19 April 1976 16 December 1977 WPK Ri Jong - ok ( 1916 -- 1999 ) 16 December 1977 27 January 1984 WPK 5 Kang Song - san ( 1931 -- 2007 ) 27 January 1984 29 December 1986 WPK 6 Ri Kun - mo ( born 1926 ) 29 December 1986 12 December 1988 WPK 7 Yon Hyong - muk ( 1931 -- 2005 ) 12 December 1988 11 December 1992 WPK 8 Kang Song - san ( 1931 -- 2007 ) 11 December 1992 21 February 1997 WPK -- Hong Song - nam ( 1929 -- 2009 ) Acting Premier 21 February 1997 5 September 1998 WPK Premier of the Cabinet 9 Hong Song - nam ( 1929 -- 2009 ) 5 September 1998 3 September 2003 WPK 10 Pak Pong - ju ( born 1939 ) 3 September 2003 11 April 2007 WPK 11 Kim Yong - il ( born 1944 ) 11 April 2007 7 June 2010 WPK 12 Choe Yong - rim ( born 1930 ) 7 June 2010 1 April 2013 WPK 13 Pak Pong - ju ( born 1939 ) 1 April 2013 Incumbent WPK Heads of parliament No. Picture Name ( Birth -- Death ) Took office Left office Political Party Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People 's Assembly Kim Tu - bong ( 1889 -- 1958 ) 9 September 1948 20 September 1957 WPNK / WPK Choe Yong - gon ( 1900 -- 1976 ) 20 September 1957 28 December 1972 WPK Hwang Jang - yop ( 1923 -- 2010 ) 28 December 1972 WPK Yang Hyong - sop ( born 1925 ) 5 September 1998 WPK Chairman of the Supreme People 's Assembly 5 Choe Thae - bok ( born 1930 ) 5 September 1998 Incumbent WPK Heads of the military Main article : Supreme Commander of the Korean People 's Army Standard of the Supreme Commander of the Korean People 's Army No. Picture Name ( Birth -- Death ) Took office Left office Political Party Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers ' Party of Korea Kim Il - sung ( 1912 -- 1994 ) 26 June 1950 28 December 1972 WPK Chairman of the National Defence Commission ( 1 ) Kim Il - sung ( 1912 -- 1994 ) 28 December 1972 9 April 1993 WPK Kim Jong - il ( 1941 -- 2011 ) 9 April 1993 Incumbent ( deceased ; see explanation below ) WPK First Chairman of the National Defence Commission Kim Jong - un ( born 1983 ) 13 April 2012 29 June 2016 WPK Chairman of the State Affairs Commission ( 3 ) Kim Jong - un ( born 1983 ) 29 June 2016 Incumbent WPK Kim Jong - il died on 17 December 2011, but has since been posthumously named the `` Eternal Chairman of the National Defence Commission ''. Thus his son and successor as leader, Kim Jong - un, was given the title of `` First Chairman ''. See also North Korea portal Eternal leaders of North Korea Government of North Korea Kim dynasty North Korean cult of personality Politics of North Korea Residences of North Korean leaders Vice President of North Korea References Jump up ^ Barry Turner ( 2013 ). The Statesman 's Yearbook 2014 : The Politics, Cultures and Economies of the World. Springer. p. 746. ISBN 978 - 1 - 349 - 59643 - 0. However, it is widely understood that Kim, like his late father, yields absolute power over the state, party and army. Jump up ^ Korea Focus on Current Topics. Korea Foundation. 2000. pp. 109 -- 110. Kim Jong - il exercises near absolute power based on juche thought and respect for his revolutionary legacy. Jump up ^ Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia ( 1999 ). Japan and Russia in Northeast Asia : Partners in the 21st Century. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 138. ISBN 978 - 0 - 275 - 96382 - 8. On February 14, 1974, Kim Il Sung announced the ten major principles to the party leadership, thus forcing power rivals to accept his `` divinity, absolutism, and unconditionality '' as was articulated in the principles. As a result, one may consider Kim Jong Il 's control over North Korea, at least for the time being, as absolute, because he has made it almost impossible to openly advocate ideas directed against his father or express discontent with the system. Jump up ^ Savada, Andrea Matles. `` Mass Organizations. '' North Korea : A country study. Washington : GPO for the Library of Congress, 1993. Jump up ^ Petrov, Leonid ( 12 October 2009 ). `` DPRK has quietly amended its Constitution ''. Leonid Petrov 's KOREA VISION. Retrieved 12 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` Article 100 ''. Socialist Constitution of the Democratic People 's Republic of Korea ( PDF ). Amended and supplemented on April 1, Juche 102 ( 2013 ), at the Seventh Session of the Twelfth Supreme People 's Assembly. Pyongyang : Foreign Languages Publishing House. 2014. p. 22. ISBN 978 - 9946 - 0 - 1099 - 1. 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Question: who became leader of north korea in 1994
Answer: Kim Jong-il