Question: Who was the first leader of North Korea?

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
Presidium
Kim Jong-un
Choe Ryong-hae
Pak Pong-ju
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
First Vice Chairman
Choe Ryong-hae
Korean People's Army
Supreme Commander: Kim Jong-un
Government
Cabinet
Premier: Kim Jae-ryong
Judiciary
Supreme Court
Legislature
Presidium
President: Choe Ryong-hae
Elections
Recent elections
Parliamentary: 200920142019
Local: 201120152019
Administrative divisions
First-level
Provinces
Special cities
Second-level
Third-level
Eup(city)
Dong(neighborhood)
Ri(village)
Rodonjagu(workers' district)
Foreign relations
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Minister: Ri Yong-ho

Diplomatic missions of / in North Korea

Nationality law
Passport
Visa requirements
Visa policy

Korean conflict
Korean reunification
Related topics
Censorship
Human rights
Kim dynasty
Propaganda
Illicit activities
Law
Enforcement
Security Ministry

 North Koreaportal 
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vt
This article lists the political leaders of North Korea, officially called the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Overview
At the end of World War II, 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.[1][2][3] 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.[4]
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: 조선민주주의인민공화국의 최고 지도자).[5] It was slightly amended in 2012, with "Chairman" replaced by "First Chairman."[6] 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

Leaders of the Workers' Party of Korea (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


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


Heads of parliament

Heads of the military



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

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