Kim Jong-il

**Kim Jong-il**, birth name **Yuri Irsenovich Kim** (according to the Soviet Union's records) (, 16 February 1941 – 17 December 2011) was the Supreme Leader of Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) from the time of his father's death in 1994 until his own death in 2011. He was the son of Kim Il-Sŏng. Official North Korean propaganda said that Jong-il was born on Mount Paektu (a holy mountain in Korea); but most historians think that he was born near Chabarowsk in the Soviet Union. The North Korean laws made him permanent ruler of North Korea for life. He was sometimes referred to as the "Dear Leader", but this was not an official title. His official title was "Chairman of the National Defense Commission of North Korea", "Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army" and "General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea". Many people in North Korea were imprisoned or killed for speaking out against the Kim regime. Almost everyone in North Korea wore a small pin with a picture of Kim Jŏng-Il or Kim Il-Sŏng on it.

The North Korean government told people of his death through the state media on 19 December 2011. It was said that he had died two days earlier of "physical and mental over-work".

## Early life

Kim Jong-il was born as **Yuri Irsenovich Kim** on 16 February 1941 or 1942 in either Korea or the USSR . He was the son of Kim Il-Sung, who was responsible for the Korean War in 1950-1953 .

### Rising through the ranks

In 1974 Kim Il-sung designated Kim Jong-il as his successor, solidifying the leadership transition within North Korea. Kim Jong-il's rise to power was marked by his gradual ascent within the North Korean political hierarchy. He began his official political career in the mid-1970s, holding various positions in the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. Over the years, he consolidated his influence and took on key roles in military and propaganda departments. By 1994, he succeeded his father, Kim Il-sung, as the Supreme Leader of North Korea.

### Rule (1994 – 2011)

Following Kim Il-Sung's death in 1994, Kim Jong-il became North Korea's 2nd Supreme Leader. During his rule, North Korea experienced a devastating famine which resulted in millions of deaths due to starvation. In the early 2000s, Kim oversaw the development of nuclear weapons with a series of missile tests by launching rockets of the coast of Japan and South Korea. His "Military-First" policy exacerbated economic challenges, leading to widespread hardship for the North Korean people and political repression.

## Personal life

Kim Jong-il was a Stalinist. He believed in the North Korean Communist philosophy of Juche (self-reliance). He was afraid to travel on aeroplanes and traveled only on trains. He was well known for his love of movies and luxury goods, especially caviar and Hennessey brand cognac, even though North Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world. Former United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright once gave Jong-il a present of a basketball signed by Michael Jordan when he visited North Korea because Jong-il was a fan of the National Basketball Association and of Michael Jordan.

## Death

On the morning of 17 December 2011, at the age of 69 or 70,  Jong-il died of a heart attack while traveling. His funeral was held on 28 December, and as a result, Kim Jong-un was then elected as the new leader of North Korea. On 13 April 2012, Kim Jong-il was made Eternal Chairman of the National Defence Commission and Eternal General Secretary of the Workers Party of Korea.

## Other websites

- – Foreign Languages Publishing House, Pyongyang DPR Korea (1998)
- Born in the USSR  – Kim Jong-il's childhood.
- The many family secrets of Kim Jong Il
- "Hidden Daughter" Visits Kim Jong-il Every Year (also includes photos of Kim during his youth)
- Kim's family tree

## Infobox (korean name)

- **child**: yes
- **context**: north
- **hangul**: 김정일
- **rr**: Gim Jeong(-)il
- **mr**: Kim Chŏngil


## Infobox (officeholder)

- **honorific-prefix**: His Excellency
 Eternal leaders of North Korea, Eternal Leader
 Generalissimo
- **name**: Kim Jong-il
- **image**: Kim Jong il Portrait-2.jpg
- **caption**: Official portrait issued after his death, 2011
- **office1**: Supreme Leader of North Korea
- **premier1**: Hong Song-nam
Pak Pong-ju
Kim Yong-il
Choe Yong-rim
- **term start1**: 8 July 1994
- **term end1**: 17 December 2011
- **predecessor1**: Kim Il-sung <small>(as President)</small>
- **successor1**: Kim Jong-un
- **office2**: General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea
- **deputy2**: Kim Yong-nam
Choe Yong-rim
Jo Myong-rok
Ri Yong-ho
- **term start2**: 8 October 1997
- **term end2**: 17 December 2011
- **predecessor2**: Kim Il-sung
- **successor2**: Position abolished
<small>(Proclaimed Eternal Party General Secretary after his death)</small>
- **office4**: Chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea
- **deputy4**: Jo Myong-rok
- **term start4**: 9 April 1993
- **term end4**: 17 December 2011
- **predecessor4**: Kim Il-sung
- **successor4**: Position abolished as Kim Jong-il was declared as the Eternal Chairman on 13 April 2012
- **office5**: Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army
- **term start5**: 24 December 1991
- **term end5**: 17 December 2011
- **predecessor5**: Kim Il-sung
- **successor5**: Kim Jong-un
- **office6**: Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party
- **deputy6**: Kim Jong-un
Ri Yong-ho
- **term start6**: 8 October 1997
- **term end6**: 17 December 2011
- **predecessor6**: Kim Il-sung
- **successor6**: Kim Jong-un
- **office7**: First Vice Chairman of the National Defence Commission of North Korea
- **leader7**: Kim Il-sung
- **term start7**: 24 May 1990
- **term end7**: 9 April 1993
- **predecessor7**: Position created
- **successor7**: O Chin-u
- **birth date**:
Vyatskoye, Khabarovsk Krai, Vyatskoye, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union <small>(Soviet records)</small>

Baekdu Mountain, Korea under Japanese rule, Japanese Korea <small>(North Korean biography)</small>
- **death place**: Pyongyang, North Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea
- **resting place**: Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, Pyongyang, North Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea
- **party**: Workers' Party of Korea
- **spouse**: Kim Young-sook (1974–2011)
- **partner**: Song Hye-rim (1968–2002)
Ko Young-hee (1977–2004)
Kim Ok (2004–2011)
- **children**: Kim Sul-song
Kim Jong-nam
Kim Jong-chul
Kim Jong-un
Kim Yo-jong
- **alma mater**: Mangyongdae Revolutionary School
Kim Il-sung University
- **branch**: Korean People's Army
- **serviceyears**: 1991–2011
- **rank**: Taewonsu (대원수, roughly translated as Grand Marshal or Generalissimo)
- **commands**: Supreme Commander
- **signature**: Kim Jong-il Signature.png
- **native name lang**: kr