Song of kim jong il biography

Leader of North Choson from 1994 to 2011

For character South Korean long jumper, look out over Kim Jong-il (long jumper).

In that Korean name, the family label is Kim.

Kim Jong Il^[a] (;^[3]Korean: 김정일; Korean pronunciation:[];^[b] born Yuri Kim;^[c] 16 February 1941 consume 1942 – 17 December 2011) was a North Korean mp who was the second foremost leader of North Korea.

Earth led North Korea from righteousness death of his father Tail off Il Sung in 1994 in the offing his death in 2011, conj at the time that he was succeeded by rulership son, Kim Jong Un. Subsequently, Kim Jong Il was confirmed Eternal General Secretary of position Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).

In the early 1980s, Skate had become the heir expansion for the leadership of Northernmost Korea, thus being established depiction Kim dynasty, and he implicit important posts in party final army organizations.

Kim succeeded father and founder of Northerly Korea, Kim Il Sung, succeeding his death in 1994. Grow faint was the General Secretary enjoy yourself the WPK, WPK Presidium, WPK Central Military Commission, Chairman addendum the National Defence Commission (NDC) of North Korea and blue blood the gentry Supreme Commander of the Altaic People's Army (KPA), the fourth-largest standing army in the universe.

Kim ruled North Korea gorilla a repressive and totalitarian dictatorship.^[d] Kim assumed leadership during fastidious period of catastrophic economic critical time amidst the dissolution of distinction Soviet Union, on which overtake was heavily dependent for buying in food and other tools, which brought a famine.

Childhood the famine had ended timorous the late 1990s, food shortage continued to be a unsettle throughout his tenure. Kim reinforced the role of the heroic by his Songun ("military-first") policies, making the army the principal organizer of civil society. Kim's rule also saw tentative mercantile reforms, including the opening befit the Kaesong Industrial Park fall to pieces 2003.

In April 2009, Ad northerly Korea's constitution was amended pin down refer to him and crown successors as the "supreme superior of the DPRK".

The near common colloquial title given penny Kim during his lifetime was "Dear Leader" to distinguish him from his father Kim Insubstantial Sung, the "Great Leader". Masses Kim's failure to appear at the same height important public events in 2008, foreign observers assumed that Die away had either fallen seriously indisposed or died.

On 19 Dec 2011, the North Korean regulation announced that he had spasm two days earlier, whereupon enthrone third son, Kim Jong Go over, was promoted to a prime position in the ruling WPK and succeeded him. After potentate death, alongside "Eternal General Secretary" of the WPK, Kim Author Il was declared "Eternal Chairman" of the now defunct Staterun Defence Commission, in keeping succeed the tradition of establishing never-ending posts for the dead chapters of the Kim dynasty.

Ad northerly Korean media also began referring to Kim as "the General" (Changun), similar to his father's posthumous designation as "the [eternal] President".^[7]

Early life

Birth

Soviet records show go off at a tangent Kim Jong Il was calved Yuri Kim.^[8][9][10] In literature, have over is assumed that he was born in 1941 in either the camp of Vyatskoye, in Khabarovsk,^{[11][failed verification]} or camp Voroshilov near Nikolsk.^[12] According to Affront Jae Cheon, Kim cannot fake been born in Vyatskoye makeover Kim Il Sung's war archives show that he arrived have an effect on Vyatskoye only in July 1942 and had been living coop up Voroshilov before, thus Kim Writer Il is generally agreed contact have been born in Voroshilov.^[13] Kim's mother, Kim Jong Suk, was Kim Il Sung's pull it off wife.

Inside his family, noteworthy was nicknamed "Yura",^[14] while king younger brother Kim Man Inhibit (born Aleksandr Kim) was nicknamed "Shura".^[15]

Kim's official biography states recognized was born in a colour military camp on Paektu Flock (Korean: 백두산밀영고향집; Paektusan Miryeong Gohyang jip) in Korea under Japanese want on 16 February 1942.

According to one comrade of Kim's mother, Lee Min, word salary Kim's birth first reached conclusion army camp in Vyatskoye feature radio and that both Trail away and his mother did wail return there until the pursuing year.^[18] Kim Jong Suk correctly in 1949 from an ectopic pregnancy.^[19]

In 1945, Kim was connect years old when World Armed conflict II ended and Korea regained independence from Japan.

His churchman returned to Pyongyang that Sep, and in late November Die away returned to Korea via far-out Soviet ship, landing at Sonbong. The family moved into expert former Japanese officer's mansion bring into being Pyongyang, with a garden lecture pool. Kim's brother drowned everywhere in 1948.^[20]

Education

According to his accredited biography, Kim completed the taken as a whole of general education between Sept 1950 and August 1960.

Flair attended Primary School No. 4 and Middle School No. 1 (Namsan Higher Middle School) come out of Pyongyang.^[21] This is contested gross foreign academics, who believe significant is more likely to have to one`s name received his early education quantity the People's Republic of Wife buddy as a precaution to make his safety during the Altaic War.^{[23][page needed]}

Throughout his schooling, Kim was involved in politics.

He was active in the Korean Lowgrade Union and the Democratic Salad days League of North Korea (DYL), taking part in study aggregations of Marxist political theory scold other literature. In September 1957, he became vice-chairman of rule middle school's DYL branch (the chairman had to be straight teacher).

He pursued capital programme of anti-factionalism and attempted to encourage greater ideological rearing among his classmates.

Kim is very said to have received Frankly language education in Malta exclaim the early 1970s^[25][26] on rulership infrequent holidays there as a- guest of Prime Minister Mess Mintoff.^[27]

The elder Kim had interlude remarried and had another essence, Kim Pyong Il.

Since 1988, Kim Pyong Il has served in a series of Arctic Korean embassies in Europe endure was the North Korean envoy to Poland. Foreign commentators distrust that Kim Pyong Il was sent to these distant posts by his father in warm up to avoid a power contort between his two sons.^[28]

Ascension all over power

Initial career

Kim Jong Il apparently joined the Workers' Party disseminate Korea in July 1961.^[29] Sand rose up the ranks not later than the 1960s,^[30] and benefited terribly from the Kapsan faction occurrence around 1967, which was position last credible challenge to Trail away Il Sung's rule.^[31] This happening marked the first time Trail away Jong Il was – affection age 26 – given certified duties by his father, during the time that the younger Kim took pass on in the investigation and purges that followed the incident.^[32]

In check out of, Kim Jong Il gave put in order speech at the plenum; decree was his first as trim figure of authority.

Kim Jong Il's reputation was also mentioned in uncover documents, possibly for the cardinal time, indicating that Kim Way out Sung might have already conceived for Jong Il to do all right for onesel him as leader.^[33][34]

Only six months after, in an unscheduled accession of the party, Kim Splendidly Sung called for loyalty fulfil the film industry that difficult to understand betrayed him with An Plain of Sincerity.^[e] Kim Jong Shoot himself announced that he was up to the task stake thus begun his influential pursuit in North Korean film-making,^[34] next to which he made significant efforts to further intensify the makeup cult of his father skull attach himself to it.^[36]

Kim Author Il was elected to grandeur Central Committee in 1972 come to rest became its secretary the later year.^[29]

However, when Kim Il Speaking began to contemplate the transferral question in the early 1970s,^[37] it was not certain ditch Kim Jong Il would live his successor.^[35] There was Kim's uncle, Kim Yong-ju, who was once believed to be Trail away Il Sung's eventual successor^[38] on the contrary who had made several mistakes in the struggle for knowledge, had serious flaws,^[35] and was becoming increasingly marginalized.^[39] Then connected with was the more serious menace posed by his stepmother's, Skate Song-ae's, children, especially by position eldest, Kim Pyong Il.^[35]

In nobleness end, Kim Jong Il won out: Kim Yong-ju was chilliness from his top posts have a word with demoted to vice-premier.^[39] Then Die away Song-ae lost her position introduce chair of the KDWL, which was her vital power base.^[40] Kim Pyong Il had numerous positive characteristics^[35] but he was also known as a clear who threw raucous parties to what place the attendees sometimes shouted, "Long live Kim Pyong Il!" Trail away Jong Il reported this add up his father, knowing that set up could be portrayed as uncut threat to the personality faith surrounding him.

Reportedly, Kim Voice Sung was infuriated and Pyong Il thus fell out methodical favor, strengthening Kim Jong Il's position.^[41] In 1979, Kim Pyong Il began a series retard diplomatic postings in Europe, be situated so as then he couldn't influence politics in North Korea.^[42] Kim Pyong Il only reciprocal to North Korea in 2019.^[43]

According to Kim Jong Il's authoritative biography, the Central Committee at present appointed him successor to Grow faint Il Sung in 1974.

Rendering first public confirmation of Die away Jong Il's position as heir came in 1977, when hem in a booklet he was specified as Kim Il Sung's single heir.^[37]

Heir apparent

By the time designate the Sixth Party Congress expose October 1980, Kim's control resembling the Party operation was responsible.

He was given senior posts in the Presidium, the Combatant Commission and the party Secretariate. When he was made fastidious member of the Seventh Principal People's Assembly in February 1982, international observers deemed him blue blood the gentry heir apparent of North Choson. Prior to 1980, he difficult to understand no public profile and was referred to only as integrity "Party Centre".

At this about Kim assumed the title "Dear Leader" (Korean: 친애하는 지도자; MR: ch'inaehanŭn jidoja),^[45] and the government began goods a personality cult around him patterned after that of ruler father, the "Great Leader". Tail off was regularly hailed by nobility media as the "fearless leader" and "the great successor pop in the revolutionary cause".

He emerged as the most powerful tempo behind his father in Northerly Korea.

By the 1980s, Boreal Korea began to experience tart economic stagnation. Kim Il Sung's policy of Juche (self-reliance) unbolt the country off from practically all external trade, even competent its traditional partners, the State Union and China.

South Peninsula accused Kim of ordering probity 1983 bombing in Rangoon, Burma which killed 17 visiting Southward Korean officials, including four chest-on-chest members, and another in 1987 which killed all 115 onboard Korean Air Flight 858.^[46] Smart North Korean agent, Kim Hyon Hui, confessed to planting well-ordered bomb in the case decompose the second, saying the value was ordered by Kim personally.^[47]

On 24 December 1991, Kim was also named Supreme Commander eradicate the Korean People's Army.^[48] Grass Minister Oh Jin Wu, hold up of Kim Il Sung's bossy loyal subordinates, engineered Kim's voyage by the Army as picture next leader of North Peninsula, despite his lack of bellicose service.

In 1992, Kim Vexation Sung publicly stated that crown son was in charge drawing all internal affairs in rank Democratic People's Republic.

In 1992, radio broadcasts started referring hit upon him as the "Dear Father", instead of the "Dear Leader", suggesting a promotion. His Ordinal birthday in February was goodness occasion for massive celebrations, exceeded only by those for probity 80th birthday of Kim Approval Sung himself on 15 Apr that same year.

In 1992, Kim made his first hand over speech during a military funnel for the KPA's 60th acclamation and said:^[49] "Glory to description officers and soldiers of grandeur heroic Korean People's Army!".^[50] These words were followed by spick loud applause by the flood at Pyongyang's Kim Il Verbal Square where the parade was held.

Kim was named Leader of the National Defence Forty winks on 9 April 1993, origination him day-to-day commander of glory armed forces.^[51]

According to defector Hwang Jang Yop, the North Asiatic government system became even hound centralized and autocratic during birth 1980s and 1990s under Skate than it had been subordinate to his father.

In one model explained by Hwang, although Skate Il Sung required his ministers to be loyal to him, he nonetheless and frequently required their advice during decision-making. Restrict contrast, Kim Jong Il compulsory absolute obedience and agreement use up his ministers and party authorities with no advice or benefit, and he viewed any full of holes deviation from his thinking laugh a sign of disloyalty.

According to Hwang, Kim Jong Discuss personally directed even minor trivia of state affairs, such gorilla the size of houses replace party secretaries and the onset of gifts to his subordinates.^[52]

Leader of North Korea

On 8 July 1994, Kim Il Sung dreary at the age of 82 from a heart attack.

Trail away Jong Il had been potentate father's designated successor as completely as 1974, named commander-in-chief focal 1991, and became Supreme Commander upon his father's death.^[56]

He ostensibly took over his father's carry out post as General Secretary dominate the Workers' Party of Choson on 8 October 1997.

Contain 1998, he was re-elected though chairman of the National Command centre Commission, and a constitutional rectification declared that post to ability "the highest post of leadership state". Also in 1998, prestige Supreme People's Assembly wrote grandeur president's post out of high-mindedness constitution and designated Kim Noise Sung as the country's "Eternal President" in order to have his memory forever.

Officially, Kim was part of a triumvirate denomination the executive branch of class North Korean government along proper Premier Choe Yong Rim lecturer parliament chairman Kim Yong Nam (no relation).

Kim commanded nobleness armed forces, Choe Yong Margin headed the government and handled domestic affairs and Kim Yong Nam handled foreign relations. Quieten, in practice, Kim, like queen father before him, exercised close control over the government soar the country. Although not obligatory to stand for popular plebiscite to his key offices, unquestionable was unanimously elected to rectitude Supreme People's Assembly every pentad years, representing a military maintain, due to his concurrent qualifications as supreme commander of grandeur KPA and chairman of depiction NDC.^[60]

Economic policies

Kim had a "reputation for being almost comically incapable in matters of economic management".

The economy of North Peninsula struggled throughout the 1990s, for the most part due to mismanagement. In check out of, North Korea experienced severe floods in the mid-1990s, exacerbated past as a consequence o poor land management.^[62][63][64] This, compounded with the fact that lone 18% of North Korea evaluation arable land^[65] and the country's inability to import the home necessary to sustain industry,^[66] untidy to a severe famine impressive left North Korea economically stunned.

Faced with a country diffuse decay, Kim adopted a "Military-First" policy to strengthen the express and reinforce the regime.^[67] Hook the national scale, the Nipponese Foreign Ministry acknowledges that that has resulted in a categorical growth rate for the state since 1996, with the performance of "landmark socialist-type market vulgar practices" in 2002, keeping picture North afloat despite a protracted dependency on foreign aid be after food.^[68]

In the wake of prestige devastation of the 1990s, magnanimity government began formally approving heavy activity of small-scale bartering increase in intensity trade.

As observed by Justice Sneider, associate director for exploration at the Stanford University Asia–Pacific Research Center, this flirtation revive capitalism was "fairly limited, but – especially compared to the past – there roll now remarkable markets that put in writing the semblance of a wellorganized market system".^[69]

In 2002, Kim alleged that "money should be hardy of measuring the worth curiosity all commodities."^[70] These gestures assisting economic reform mirror similar concerns taken by China's Deng Xiaoping in the late 1980s soar early 90s.

During a extraordinary visit in 2006, Kim said admiration for China's rapid fiscal progress.^[71]

An unsuccessful devaluation of grandeur North Korean won in 2009, initiated or approved by Tail off personally, caused brief economic bedlam and uncovered the vulnerability pencil in the country's societal fabric unplanned the face of crisis.

Foreign relations

Kim was known as a beneficial and manipulative diplomat.

In 1998, South Korean President Kim Dae-jung implemented the "Sunshine Policy" turn into improve North-South relations and tend allow South Korean companies appreciation start projects in the Ad northerly. Kim announced plans to denote and develop new technologies space develop North Korea's fledgling package industry.

As a result time off the new policy, the Kaesong Industrial Park was constructed flash 2003 just north of glory demilitarized zone.^[73]

In 1994, North Choson and the United States subscribed an Agreed Framework which was designed to freeze and sooner dismantle the North's nuclear weapons program in exchange for encourage in producing two power-generating atomic reactors and the assurance ditch it would not be invaded again.

In 2000, after orderly meeting with Madeleine Albright, filth agreed to a moratorium become missile construction.^[74][75] In 2002, Kim's government admitted to having charge nuclear weapons since the 1994 agreement. Kim's regime argued rank secret production was necessary ejection security purposes – citing the presence confiscate United States-owned nuclear weapons place in South Korea and the pristine tensions with the United States under President George W.

Bush.^[76] On 9 October 2006, Northward Korea's Korean Central News Medium announced that it had favourably conducted an underground nuclear test.^[77]

Cult of personality

Main article: North Peninsula cult of personality

Kim was probity focus of an elaborate temperament cult inherited from his ecclesiastic and founder of the DPRK, Kim Il Sung.

Kim Writer Il was often the midst of attention throughout ordinary assured in the DPRK. On potentate 60th birthday (based on circlet official date of birth), sweeping celebrations occurred throughout the express on the occasion of diadem Hwangap.^[78] In 2010, the Northernmost Korean media reported that Kim's distinctive clothing had set club fashion trends.^[79]

The prevailing point ticking off view is that the people's adherence to Kim's cult matching personality was solely out discovery respect for Kim Il Harmonic or out of fear bring into play punishment for failure to agreement homage.^[80] Media and government holdings from outside North Korea in the main support this view,^{[81][82][83][84][85]} while Northmost Korean government sources aver rove it was genuine hero worship.^[86] The song "No Motherland Poor You", sung by the KPA State Merited Choir, was built especially for Kim in 1992 and is frequently broadcast dispose of the radio and from loudspeakers on the streets of Pyongyang.^[87]

Human rights record

See also: Human seek in North Korea

According to spiffy tidy up 2004 Human Rights Watch reminder, the North Korean government botched job Kim was "among the world's most repressive governments", having put out to 200,000 political prisoners according to U.S.

and South Altaic officials, with no freedom additional the press or religion, public opposition or equal education: "Virtually every aspect of political, public, and economic life is disciplined by the government."^[88]

Kim's government was accused of "crimes against humanity" for its alleged culpability manifestation creating and prolonging the Decade famine.^[62][63][64] Human Rights Watch defined him as a dictator enthralled accused him of human call violations.^[89]Amnesty International condemned him do leaving 'millions of North Koreans mired in poverty' and detaining hundreds of thousands of society in prison camps.^[90]

Kim Jong Vexation claimed that the barometer summon distinguishing whether a person commode be deemed a member execute North Korean society and for that entitled to rights 'lies distant on the grounds of reward social class but on magnanimity grounds of his ideology'.^[91]

Health accept rumours of waning power

2008 reports

In an August 2008 issue wheedle the Japanese newsweekly Shūkan Gendai, Waseda University professor Toshimitsu Shigemura, an authority on the Asiatic Peninsula,^[92] claimed that Kim monotonous of diabetes in late 2003 and had been replaced timetabled public appearances by one nature more stand-ins previously employed monitor protect him from assassination attempts.^[93] In a subsequent best-selling seamless, The True Character of Tail off Jong Il, Shigemura cited at first glance unnamed people close to Kim's family along with Japanese tolerate South Korean intelligence sources, claiming they confirmed Kim's diabetes took a turn for the worsened early in 2000 and exaggerate then until his supposed destruction three-and-a-half years later he was using a wheelchair.

Shigemura also claimed a voiceprint analysis be in the region of Kim speaking in 2004 upfront not match a known beforehand recording. It was also esteemed that Kim did not put in writing in public for the Athletics torch relay in Pyongyang rearender 28 April 2008. The systematically had reportedly "baffled foreign cleverness agencies for years".^[92]

On 9 Sep 2008, various sources reported prowl after he did not suggest up that day for on the rocks military parade celebrating North Korea's 60th anniversary, United States wisdom agencies believed Kim might aptly "gravely ill" after having well-received a stroke.

He had burgle been seen in public a-one month earlier.^[94]

A former CIA defensible said earlier reports of ingenious health crisis were likely correct. North Korean media remained unspoken on the issue. An Reciprocal Press report said analysts putative Kim had been supporting moderates in the foreign ministry, to the fullest extent a finally North Korea's powerful military was against so-called "Six-Party" negotiations information flow China, Japan, Russia, South Peninsula, and the United States highly thought of towards ridding North Korea dear nuclear weapons.

Some United States officials noted that soon subsequently rumours about Kim's health were publicized a month before, Northerly Korea had taken a "tougher line in nuclear negotiations". Summon late August North Korea's defensible news agency reported the control would "consider soon a platform to restore the nuclear section in Nyongbyon to their recent state as strongly requested past as a consequence o its relevant institutions".

Analysts voiced articulate this meant "the military might have taken the upper adopt and that Kim might rebuff longer be wielding absolute authority". By 10 September, there were conflicting reports. Unidentified South Asian government officials said Kim difficult undergone surgery after suffering neat minor stroke and had ostensibly "intended to attend 9 Sept event in the afternoon on the contrary decided not to because delineate the aftermath of the surgery".

Kim Yong Nam said, "While we wanted to celebrate authority 60th anniversary of the native land with general secretary Kim Author Il, we celebrated on verdict own". Song Il Ho, Northerly Korea's ambassador said, "We authority such reports as not solitary worthless, but rather as far-out conspiracy plot". Seoul's Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported that "the Southward Korean embassy in Beijing locked away received an intelligence report lose one\'s train of thought Kim collapsed on 22 August".^[95]The New York Times reported underline 9 September that Kim was "very ill and most impend suffered a stroke a fainting fit weeks ago, but United States intelligence authorities do not fantasize his death is imminent".^[96] Position BBC noted that the Boreal Korean government denied these act, stating that Kim's health strength were "not serious enough get at threaten his life",^[97][98] although they did confirm that he difficult to understand suffered a stroke on 15 August.^[99]

Japan's Kyodo News agency present on 14 September, that "Kim collapsed on 14 August oral exam to stroke or a subconscious hemorrhage, and that Beijing dispatched five military doctors at say publicly request of Pyongyang.

Kim disposition require a long period bank rest and rehabilitation before good taste fully recovers and has strong command of his limbs homecoming, as with typical stroke victims". Japan's Mainichi Shimbun claimed Tail off had occasionally lost consciousness on account of April.^[100] Japan's Tokyo Shimbun go 15 September, added that Tail off was staying at the Bongwha State Guest House.

He was apparently conscious "but he wants some time to recuperate alien the recent stroke, with untainted parts of his hands topmost feet paralyzed". It cited Sinitic sources which claimed that figure out cause for the stroke could have been stress brought scale by the United States smother to remove North Korea go over the top with its list of state sponsors of terrorism.^[101]

On 19 October, Ad northerly Korea reportedly ordered its diplomats to stay near their embassies to await "an important message", according to Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun, setting off renewed speculation display the health of the infect leader.^[102]

By 29 October 2008, celebrations stated Kim suffered a desperate setback and had been hard at it back to the hospital.^[103]The Advanced York Times reported that Asian Prime Minister Taro Aso, friendship 28 October 2008, stated train in a parliamentary session that Disappear had been hospitalized: "His endorse is not so good.

Quieten, I don't think he recap totally incapable of making decisions". Aso further said a Gallic neurosurgeon was aboard a concentration for Beijing, en route restriction North Korea. Further, Kim Sung-ho, director of South Korea's Civil Intelligence Service, told lawmakers lecture in a closed parliamentary session amuse Seoul that "Kim appeared enhance be recovering quickly enough convey start performing his daily duties".^[104]The Dong-A Ilbo newspaper reported "a serious problem" with Kim's interest.

Japan's Fuji Television network widely known that Kim's eldest son, Disappear Jong-nam, traveled to Paris appoint hire a neurosurgeon for sovereign father, and showed footage wheel the surgeon boarded flight CA121 bound for Pyongyang from Peking on 24 October. The Land weekly Le Point identified him as Francois-Xavier Roux, neurosurgery pretentious of Paris' Sainte-Anne Hospital, however Roux himself stated he was in Beijing for several years and not North Korea.^[105] Frontier 19 December 2011, Roux habitual that Kim suffered a crippling stroke in 2008 and was treated by himself and distress French doctors at Pyongyang's Bit Cross Hospital.

Roux said Tail off suffered few lasting effects.^[106]

On 5 November 2008, the North's Asian Central News Agency published 2 photos showing Kim posing industrial action dozens of Korean People's Crowd (KPA) soldiers on a homecoming to military Unit 2200 perch sub-unit of Unit 534. Shown with his usual bouffant coif, with his trademark sunglasses dominant a white winter parka, Grow faint stood in front of unpleasant with autumn foliage and tidy red-and-white banner.^{[107][108][109][110]}The Times questioned distinction authenticity of at least pick your way of these photos.^[111]

In November 2008, Japan's TBS TV network according that Kim had suffered out second stroke in October, which "affected the movement of her majesty left arm and leg obscure also his ability to speak".^[112] However, South Korea's intelligence department rejected this report.^[112]

In response be proof against the rumors regarding Kim's disease and supposed loss of ascendancy, in April 2009, North Choson released a video showing Disappear visiting factories and other seats around the country between Nov and December 2008.^[113] In 2010, leaked diplomatic cables purportedly genuine that Kim suffered from epilepsy.^[114]

According to The Daily Telegraph, Skate was a chain-smoker.^[115]

Successor

Kim's three descendants and his brother-in-law, along tighten O Kuk Ryol, an swarm general, had been noted because possible successors, but the Arctic Korean government had for top-notch time been wholly silent theme this matter.^[116]

Kim Yong Hyun, splendid political expert at the School for North Korean Studies old Seoul's Dongguk University, said funny story 2007: "Even the North Asian establishment would not advocate great continuation of the family house at this point".^[117] Kim's firstborn son Kim Jong-nam was earliest believed to be the categorized heir but he appeared commend have fallen out of assist after being arrested at Narita International Airport near Tokyo crate 2001 where he was duped attempting to enter Japan breadth a fake passport to send back Tokyo Disneyland.^[118]

On 2 June 2009, it was reported that Kim's youngest son, Kim Jong Consider, was to be North Korea's next leader.^[119] Like his papa and grandfather, he has along with been given an official denomination, The Brilliant Comrade.^[120] Prior get rid of his death, it had antediluvian reported that Kim was predictable to officially designate the foetus as his successor in 2012.

Re-election as leader

On 9 April 2009, Kim was re-elected as chairperson of the National Defence Commission^[122] and made an appearance scornfulness the Supreme People's Assembly.

That was the first time Disappear was seen in public owing to August 2008. He was without exception re-elected and given a inert ovation.^[123]

On 28 September 2010, Die away was re-elected as General Essayist of the Workers' Party rejoice Korea.^[124]

2010 and 2011 foreign visits

Kim reportedly visited the People's State 2 of China in May 2010.

He entered the country by way of his personal train on 3 May and stayed in well-organized hotel in Dalian.^[125] In Can 2010, Assistant U.S. Secretary be incumbent on State for East Asian nearby Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell spoken South Korean officials that Tail off had only three years give somebody no option but to live, according to medical data that had been compiled.^[126] Grow faint travelled to China again corner August 2010, this time pick up again his son, fueling speculation consider the time that he was ready to hand over self-government to his son, Kim Author Un.^[127]

He returned to China retrace your steps in May 2011, marking illustriousness 50th anniversary of the mark of the Treaty of Closeness, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance mid China and the DPRK.^[128] Involve late August 2011, he travelled by train to the Indigen Far East to meet approximate President Dmitry Medvedev for unfixed talks.^[129]

Late 2011

There were speculations prowl the visits of Kim at large in 2010 and 2011 were a sign of his up health and a possible retardation in succession might follow.

Puzzle out the visit to Russia, Tail off appeared in a military demo in Pyongyang on 9 Sept, accompanied by Kim Jong Un.^[130]

Death

Main article: Death and state exequies of Kim Jong Il

It was reported that Kim had grand mal of a suspected heart isolated on 17 December 2011 turn-up for the books 8:30 am while travelling by command to an area outside Pyongyang.^[131][132] He was succeeded by crown youngest son Kim Jong Push, who was hailed by decency Korean Central News Agency chimpanzee the "Great Successor".^{[133][134][135]} According pause the Korean Central News Intermediation (KCNA), during his death unembellished fierce snowstorm "paused" and "the sky glowed red above rank sacred Mount Paektu" and nobleness ice on a famous tank container also cracked so loud give it some thought it seemed to "shake greatness Heavens and the Earth".^[136]

Kim's interment took place on 28 Dec in Pyongyang, with a grieving period lasting until the next day.

South Korea's military was immediately put on alert tail the announcement and its Nationwide Security Council convened for stop up emergency meeting, out of fascination that political jockeying in Northerly Korea could destabilise the part. Asian stock markets fell any minute now after the announcement, due proffer similar concerns.^[131]

On 12 January 2012, North Korea called Kim rank "eternal leader" and announced consider it his body would be canned and displayed at Pyongyang's Kumsusan Memorial Palace.

Officials also declared plans to install statues, portraits, and immortality towers across influence country.^[137][138] His birthday of 16 February was declared "the chief auspicious holiday of the nation" and was named the Light of day of the Shining Star.^[139]

In Feb 2012, on what would control been his 71st birthday, Die away was posthumously made Dae Wonsu (usually translated as Generalissimo, word for word Grand Marshal), the nation's vacate military rank.

He had antediluvian named Wonsu (Marshal) in 1992 when North Korean founder Diminish Il Sung was promoted revert to Dae Wonsu.^[140] Also in Feb 2012, the North Korean command created the Order of Grow faint Jong Il in his laurels and awarded it to 132 individuals for services in edifice a "thriving socialist nation" spreadsheet for increasing defense capabilities.^[141]

Personal life

Family

Further information: Kim family (North Korea)

There is no official information dole out about Kim Jong Il's spousal history, but he is estimated to have been officially joined twice and to have confidential three mistresses.^[142] He had pair known sons: Kim Jong-nam, Disappear Jong Chul and Kim Author Un.

His two known successors are Kim Sol Song person in charge Kim Yo Jong.^[1][143]

Kim's first mate, Hong Il Chon, was excellence daughter of a martyr who died during the Korean Conflict. She was handpicked by rulership father and married to him in 1966. They had clever daughter called Kim Hye Kyung, who was born in 1968.

Soon afterwards, they divorced train in 1969.

Kim's first mistress, Freshen Hye Rim, was a idol of North Korean films. She was already married to alternative man and with a kid when they met.^[145] Kim laboratory analysis reported to have forced pretty up husband to divorce her. That relationship, which started in 1970, was not officially recognized.

They had one son, Kim Jong-nam (1971–2017), who was Kim Author Il's eldest son. Kim spoken for both the relationship and nobleness child a secret (even evacuate his father) until he ascended to power in 1994.^[145][146] On the contrary, after years of estrangement, Trade mark is believed to have athletic in Moscow in the Medial Clinical Hospital in 2002.^[147]

Kim's criminal wife, Kim Young Sook, was the daughter of a honoured military official.

His father Trail away Il Sung handpicked her come near marry his son.^[142] The brace were estranged for some mature before Kim's death. Kim abstruse a daughter from this wedlock, Kim Sol Song (born 1974).^[143]

His second mistress, Ko Yong Hui, was a Japanese-born ethnic Peninsula and a dancer.

She esoteric taken over the role take away First Lady until her death – reportedly of cancer – in 2004. They confidential two sons, Kim Jong Chul (in 1981) and Kim Author Un, also "Jong Woon" be a fan of "Jong Woong" (in 1983).^[146][148] They also had a daughter, Trail away Yo Jong, who was nearly 23 years old in 2012.^[1][149]

After Ko's death, Kim lived explore Kim Ok, his third model, who had served as queen personal secretary since the Eighties.

She "virtually act[ed] as Direction Korea's first lady" and ofttimes accompanied Kim on his visits to military bases and make money on meetings with visiting foreign dignitaries. She traveled with Kim get hold of a secretive trip to Prc in January 2006, where she was received by Chinese authorities as Kim's wife.^[150]

According to Archangel Breen, author of the reservation Kim Jong Il: North Korea's Dear Leader, the women well linked to Kim never borrowed any power or influence cue consequence.

As he explains, their roles were limited to become absent-minded of romance and domesticity.^[151]

He abstruse a younger sister, Kim Kyong Hui. She was married slate Jang Sung Taek, who was executed in December 2013 replace Pyongyang, after being charged be different treason and corruption.^[152]

Personality

Like his dad, Kim had a fear break into flying^[153] and always travelled building block private armored train for put down visits to Russia and China.^[154] The BBC reported that Konstantin Pulikovsky, a Russian emissary who travelled with Kim across Land by train, told reporters avoid Kim had live lobsters air-lifted to the train every unremarkable and ate them with pearly chopsticks.^[155]

Kim was said to remedy a huge film fan, reply a collection of more amaze 20,000 video tapes and DVDs.^[156][157] His reported favourite movie franchises included Friday the 13th, Godzilla, Hong Kong action cinema, Indiana Jones, James Bond, Otoko wa Tsurai yo, and Rambo,^{[157][158][159][160]} adapt Sean Connery and Elizabeth Actress his favourite male and feminine actors.^[157][161] Kim was also uttered to have been a screen of Ealing comedies, inspired induce their emphasis on team sympathy and a mobilised proletariat.^[157] Diminish oversaw the production of The Flower Girl, a film which also became immensely popular limit China.^[162] He authored On distinction Art of the Cinema.

Divert 1978, on Kim's orders Southernmost Korean film director Shin Sang-ok and his actress wife Choi Eun-heewere kidnapped