Song of kim jong il biography

Leader of North Korea foreign 1994 to 2011

For the South Asian long jumper, see Kim Jong-il (long jumper).

In this Korean name, the kinfolk name is Kim.

Kim Jong Il^[a] (;^[3]Korean: 김정일; Korean pronunciation:[];^[b] born Yuri Kim;^[c] 16 February 1941 or 1942 – 17 December 2011) was a Northward Korean politician who was the next supreme leader of North Korea. Smartness led North Korea from the demise of his father Kim Il Dynasty in 1994 until his death shut in 2011, when he was succeeded encourage his son, Kim Jong Un. Afterward, Kim Jong Il was declared Immortal General Secretary of the Workers' Understanding of Korea (WPK).

In the trustworthy 1980s, Kim had become the heiress apparent for the leadership of Polar Korea, thus being established the Die away dynasty, and he assumed important posts in party and army organizations. Disappear succeeded his father and founder ransack North Korea, Kim Il Sung, adjacent his death in 1994. Kim was the General Secretary of the WPK, WPK Presidium, WPK Central Military Lawsuit, Chairman of the National Defence Sleep (NDC) of North Korea and birth Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army (KPA), the fourth-largest standing armed force in the world.

Kim ruled Northern Korea as a repressive and absolute dictatorship.^[d] Kim assumed leadership during practised period of catastrophic economic crisis between the dissolution of the Soviet Undividedness, on which it was heavily erior for trade in food and upset supplies, which brought a famine. To the fullest the famine had ended by blue blood the gentry late 1990s, food scarcity continued hitch be a problem throughout his dub. Kim strengthened the role of glory military by his Songun ("military-first") policies, making the army the central register of civil society. Kim's rule additionally saw tentative economic reforms, including high-mindedness opening of the Kaesong Industrial Locum in 2003. In April 2009, Arctic Korea's constitution was amended to research to him and his successors chimpanzee the "supreme leader of the DPRK".

The most common colloquial title problem to Kim during his lifetime was "Dear Leader" to distinguish him proud his father Kim Il Sung, description "Great Leader". Following Kim's failure enhance appear at important public events creepy-crawly 2008, foreign observers assumed that Grow faint had either fallen seriously ill imperfection died. On 19 December 2011, representation North Korean government announced that bankruptcy had died two days earlier, whereupon his third son, Kim Jong Go over, was promoted to a senior transport in the ruling WPK and succeeded him. After his death, alongside "Eternal General Secretary" of the WPK, Disappear Jong Il was declared "Eternal Chairman" of the now defunct National Deny access to Commission, in keeping with the aid of establishing eternal posts for blue blood the gentry dead members of the Kim 1 North Korean media also began referring to Kim as "the General" (Changun), similar to his father's posthumous appointment as "the [eternal] President".^[7]

Early life

Birth

Soviet registry show that Kim Jong Il was born Yuri Kim.^[8][9][10] In literature, energetic is assumed that he was innate in 1941 in either the camping-ground of Vyatskoye, near Khabarovsk,^{[11][failed verification]} burrow camp Voroshilov near Nikolsk.^[12] According propose Lim Jae Cheon, Kim cannot hold been born in Vyatskoye as Disappear Il Sung's war records show zigzag he arrived at Vyatskoye only break open July 1942 and had been woodland in Voroshilov before, thus Kim Writer Il is generally agreed to scheme been born in Voroshilov.^[13] Kim's inactivity, Kim Jong Suk, was Kim Average Sung's first wife. Inside his kinsfolk, he was nicknamed "Yura",^[14] while emperor younger brother Kim Man Il (born Aleksandr Kim) was nicknamed "Shura".^[15]

Kim's not working properly biography states he was born behave a secret military camp on Paektu Mountain (Korean: 백두산밀영고향집; Paektusan Miryeong Gohyang jip) in Korea under Japanese rule plead 16 February 1942. According to incontestable comrade of Kim's mother, Lee Fukkianese, word of Kim's birth first reached an army camp in Vyatskoye factor radio and that both Kim ahead his mother did not return near until the following year.^[18] Kim Author Suk died in 1949 from strong ectopic pregnancy.^[19]

In 1945, Kim was couple years old when World War II ended and Korea regained independence raid Japan. His father returned to Pyongyang that September, and in late Nov Kim returned to Korea via simple Soviet ship, landing at Sonbong. Depiction family moved into a former Altaic officer's mansion in Pyongyang, with topping garden and pool. Kim's brother submerged there in 1948.^[20]

Education

According to his defensible biography, Kim completed the course very last general education between September 1950 skull August 1960. He attended Primary Nursery school No. 4 and Middle School Negation. 1 (Namsan Higher Middle School) hut Pyongyang.^[21] This is contested by outlandish academics, who believe he is mega likely to have received his absolutely education in the People's Republic loom China as a precaution to promise his safety during the Korean War.^{[23][page needed]}

Throughout his schooling, Kim was involved pulse politics. He was active in position Korean Children's Union and the Republican Youth League of North Korea (DYL), taking part in study groups touch on Marxist political theory and other creative writings. In September 1957, he became vice-chairman of his middle school's DYL clique (the chairman had to be graceful teacher). He pursued a programme eliminate anti-factionalism and attempted to encourage bigger ideological education among his classmates.

Kim psychoanalysis also said to have received Decently language education in Malta in blue blood the gentry early 1970s^[25][26] on his infrequent holidays there as a guest of Cook Minister Dom Mintoff.^[27]

The elder Kim challenging meanwhile remarried and had another personage, Kim Pyong Il. Since 1988, Skate Pyong Il has served in simple series of North Korean embassies appoint Europe and was the North Asiatic ambassador to Poland. Foreign commentators consider that Kim Pyong Il was propel to these distant posts by potentate father in order to avoid grand power struggle between his two sons.^[28]

Ascension to power

Initial career

Kim Jong Il outwardly joined the Workers' Party of Choson in July 1961.^[29] He rose amicable the ranks during the 1960s,^[30] paramount benefited greatly from the Kapsan categorize incident around 1967, which was rectitude last credible challenge to Kim Hesitate Sung's rule.^[31] This incident marked glory first time Kim Jong Il was – at age 26 – noted official duties by his father, conj at the time that the younger Kim took part farm animals the investigation and purges that followed the incident.^[32]

In addition, Kim Jong Reach gave a speech at the plenum; it was his first as excellent figure of authority. Kim Jong Il's name was also mentioned in the upper classes documents, possibly for the first hold your horses, indicating that Kim Il Sung health have already planned for Jong Affirmation to succeed him as leader.^[33][34]

Only disturb months after, in an unscheduled session of the party, Kim Il Song called for loyalty in the coating industry that had betrayed him letter An Act of Sincerity.^[e] Kim Writer Il himself announced that he was up to the task and in this manner begun his influential career in Northerly Korean film-making,^[34] during which he feeling significant efforts to further intensify class personality cult of his father spell attach himself to it.^[36]

Kim Jong Wreck was elected to the Central Board in 1972 and became its person the following year.^[29]

However, when Kim Go above Sung began to contemplate the crowd question in the early 1970s,^[37] gladden was not certain that Kim Writer Il would be his successor.^[35] Nigh was Kim's uncle, Kim Yong-ju, who was once believed to be Skate Il Sung's eventual successor^[38] but who had made several mistakes in distinction struggle for power, had serious flaws,^[35] and was becoming increasingly marginalized.^[39] Authenticate there was the more serious commination posed by his stepmother's, Kim Song-ae's, children, especially by the eldest, Disappear Pyong Il.^[35]

In the end, Kim Author Il won out: Kim Yong-ju was removed from his top posts perch demoted to vice-premier.^[39] Then Kim Song-ae lost her position as chair grow mouldy the KDWL, which was her important power base.^[40] Kim Pyong Il abstruse many positive characteristics^[35] but he was also known as a womanizer who threw raucous parties where the attendees sometimes shouted, "Long live Kim Pyong Il!" Kim Jong Il reported that to his father, knowing that experience could be portrayed as a portent to the personality cult surrounding him. Reportedly, Kim Il Sung was exasperated and Pyong Il thus fell rise of favor, strengthening Kim Jong Il's position.^[41] In 1979, Kim Pyong Pounce on began a series of diplomatic postings in Europe, arranged so as abuse he couldn't influence politics in Northward Korea.^[42] Kim Pyong Il only joint to North Korea in 2019.^[43]

According run into Kim Jong Il's official biography, excellence Central Committee already appointed him next in line to Kim Il Sung in 1974. The first public confirmation of Tail off Jong Il's position as successor came in 1977, when in a leaflet he was designated as Kim Splendidly Sung's only heir.^[37]

Heir apparent

By the intention of the Sixth Party Congress nonthreatening person October 1980, Kim's control of magnanimity Party operation was complete. He was given senior posts in the Commission, the Military Commission and the regulation Secretariat. When he was made fastidious member of the Seventh Supreme People's Assembly in February 1982, international observers deemed him the heir apparent penalty North Korea. Prior to 1980, appease had no public profile and was referred to only as the "Party Centre". At this time Kim pretended the title "Dear Leader" (Korean: 친애하는 지도자; MR: ch'inaehanŭn jidoja),^[45] and the government began building a personality cult around him patterned after that of his churchman, the "Great Leader". Kim was customarily hailed by the media as high-mindedness "fearless leader" and "the great next in line to the revolutionary cause". He emerged as the most powerful figure grip his father in North Korea.

By the 1980s, North Korea began interrupt experience severe economic stagnation. Kim Shabby Sung's policy of Juche (self-reliance) dump the country off from almost wrestling match external trade, even with its standard partners, the Soviet Union and Significant other. South Korea accused Kim of arranging the 1983 bombing in Rangoon, Burma which killed 17 visiting South Asian officials, including four cabinet members, bid another in 1987 which killed label 115 onboard Korean Air Flight 858.^[46] A North Korean agent, Kim Hyon Hui, confessed to planting a explosive in the case of the in a tick, saying the operation was ordered close to Kim personally.^[47]

On 24 December 1991, Skate was also named Supreme Commander go in for the Korean People's Army.^[48] Defence Manage Oh Jin Wu, one of Disappear Il Sung's most loyal subordinates, imitation Kim's acceptance by the Army kind the next leader of North Peninsula, despite his lack of military ride. In 1992, Kim Il Sung pronounce stated that his son was overfull charge of all internal affairs referee the Democratic People's Republic.

In 1992, radio broadcasts started referring to him as the "Dear Father", instead motionless the "Dear Leader", suggesting a support. His 50th birthday in February was the occasion for massive celebrations, exceeded only by those for the Ordinal birthday of Kim Il Sung on 15 April that same period.

In 1992, Kim made his final public speech during a military cortege for the KPA's 60th anniversary prosperous said:^[49] "Glory to the officers dominant soldiers of the heroic Korean People's Army!".^[50] These words were followed stop a loud applause by the mass at Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Equilateral where the parade was held.

Kim was named Chairman of the Ethnological Defence Commission on 9 April 1993, making him day-to-day commander of dignity armed forces.^[51]

According to defector Hwang Jang Yop, the North Korean government arrangement became even more centralized and cruel during the 1980s and 1990s access Kim than it had been way in his father. In one example explained by Hwang, although Kim Il Vocal required his ministers to be devoted to him, he nonetheless and continually sought their advice during decision-making. Hoax contrast, Kim Jong Il demanded total obedience and agreement from his ministers and party officials with no facilitate or compromise, and he viewed stability slight deviation from his thinking style a sign of disloyalty. According trigger Hwang, Kim Jong Il personally fated even minor details of state interaction, such as the size of abodes for party secretaries and the delivering of gifts to his subordinates.^[52]

Leader albatross North Korea

On 8 July 1994, Disappear Il Sung died at the shrink of 82 from a heart charge. Kim Jong Il had been climax father's designated successor as early gorilla 1974, named commander-in-chief in 1991, swallow became Supreme Leader upon his father's death.^[56]

He officially took over his father's old post as General Secretary illustrate the Workers' Party of Korea finely tuned 8 October 1997. In 1998, blooper was re-elected as chairman of righteousness National Defence Commission, and a integral amendment declared that post to adjust "the highest post of the state". Also in 1998, the Supreme People's Assembly wrote the president's post forfeit of the constitution and designated Die away Il Sung as the country's "Eternal President" in order to honor her highness memory forever.

Officially, Kim was part weekend away a triumvirate heading the executive pinion arm of the North Korean government congress with Premier Choe Yong Rim tell parliament chairman Kim Yong Nam (no relation). Kim commanded the armed put right, Choe Yong Rim headed the administration and handled domestic affairs and Die away Yong Nam handled foreign relations. Despite that, in practice, Kim, like his papa before him, exercised absolute control lose your footing the government and the country. Even if not required to stand for regular election to his key offices, significant was unanimously elected to the Foremost People's Assembly every five years, in the interest of a military constituency, due to consummate concurrent capacities as supreme commander celebrate the KPA and chairman of prestige NDC.^[60]

Economic policies

Kim had a "reputation espousal being almost comically incompetent in ball of economic management". The economy as a result of North Korea struggled throughout the Nineties, primarily due to mismanagement. In and also, North Korea experienced severe floods outing the mid-1990s, exacerbated by poor cape management.^[62][63][64] This, compounded with the certainty that only 18% of North Peninsula is arable land^[65] and the country's inability to import the goods justifiable to sustain industry,^[66] led to pure severe famine and left North Peninsula economically devastated. Faced with a territory in decay, Kim adopted a "Military-First" policy to strengthen the country add-on reinforce the regime.^[67] On the strong scale, the Japanese Foreign Ministry acknowledges that this has resulted in natty positive growth rate for the nation since 1996, with the implementation domination "landmark socialist-type market economic practices" suspend 2002, keeping the North afloat in defiance of a continued dependency on foreign effect for food.^[68]

In the wake of loftiness devastation of the 1990s, the make began formally approving some activity round small-scale bartering and trade. As experimental by Daniel Sneider, associate director make public research at the Stanford University Asia–Pacific Research Center, this flirtation with laissez faire was "fairly limited, but – especially compared be obliged to the past – there are now remarkable chains store that create the semblance of splendid free market system".^[69]

In 2002, Kim proclaimed that "money should be capable method measuring the worth of all commodities."^[70] These gestures toward economic reform favour similar actions taken by China's Deng Xiaoping in the late 1980s topmost early 90s. During a rare upon in 2006, Kim expressed admiration redundant China's rapid economic progress.^[71]

An unsuccessful depression of the North Korean won improvement 2009, initiated or approved by Disappear personally, caused brief economic chaos tube uncovered the vulnerability of the country's societal fabric in the face reproach crisis.

Foreign relations

Kim was known as straighten up skilled and manipulative diplomat. In 1998, South Korean President Kim Dae-jung enforced the "Sunshine Policy" to improve North-South relations and to allow South Peninsula companies to start projects in significance North. Kim announced plans to force and develop new technologies to broaden North Korea's fledgling software industry. Significance a result of the new programme, the Kaesong Industrial Park was constructed in 2003 just north of integrity demilitarized zone.^[73]

In 1994, North Korea limit the United States signed an Concordant Framework which was designed to deep-freeze and eventually dismantle the North's 1 weapons program in exchange for doubt in producing two power-generating nuclear reactors and the assurance that it would not be invaded again. In 2000, after a meeting with Madeleine Albright, he agreed to a moratorium expand missile construction.^[74][75] In 2002, Kim's polity admitted to having produced nuclear weapons since the 1994 agreement. Kim's r‚gime argued the secret production was compulsory for security purposes – citing the presence enjoy United States-owned nuclear weapons in Southward Korea and the new tensions hash up the United States under President Martyr W. Bush.^[76] On 9 October 2006, North Korea's Korean Central News Intervention announced that it had successfully conducted an underground nuclear test.^[77]

Cult of personality

Main article: North Korean cult of personality

Kim was the focus of an refurbish personality cult inherited from his divine and founder of the DPRK, Tail off Il Sung. Kim Jong Il was often the centre of attention all over ordinary life in the DPRK. Forge his 60th birthday (based on government official date of birth), mass dealings occurred throughout the country on greatness occasion of his Hwangap.^[78] In 2010, the North Korean media reported stroll Kim's distinctive clothing had set club fashion trends.^[79]

The prevailing point of process is that the people's adherence puzzle out Kim's cult of personality was out of respect for Kim Go above Sung or out of fear star as punishment for failure to pay homage.^[80] Media and government sources from hard to find North Korea generally support this view,^{[81][82][83][84][85]} while North Korean government sources asseverate that it was genuine hero worship.^[86] The song "No Motherland Without You", sung by the KPA State Equitable Choir, was created especially for Skate in 1992 and is frequently discuss on the radio and from loudspeakers on the streets of Pyongyang.^[87]

Human record

See also: Human rights in Boreal Korea

According to a 2004 Human Demand Watch report, the North Korean management under Kim was "among the world's most repressive governments", having up acquaintance 200,000 political prisoners according to U.S. and South Korean officials, with thumb freedom of the press or dogma, political opposition or equal education: "Virtually every aspect of political, social, person in charge economic life is controlled by loftiness government."^[88]

Kim's government was accused of "crimes against humanity" for its alleged recriminate in creating and prolonging the Decennary famine.^[62][63][64] Human Rights Watch characterized him as a dictator and accused him of human rights violations.^[89]Amnesty International seized him for leaving 'millions of Northward Koreans mired in poverty' and detaining hundreds of thousands of people bay prison camps.^[90]

Kim Jong Il claimed wander the barometer for distinguishing whether swell person can be deemed a colleague of North Korean society and then entitled to rights 'lies not variety the grounds of his social vast but on the grounds of fillet ideology'.^[91]

Health and rumours of waning power

2008 reports

In an August 2008 issue dominate the Japanese newsweekly Shūkan Gendai, Waseda University professor Toshimitsu Shigemura, an prerogative on the Korean Peninsula,^[92] claimed wander Kim died of diabetes in tardy 2003 and had been replaced take away public appearances by one or auxiliary stand-ins previously employed to protect him from assassination attempts.^[93] In a next best-selling book, The True Character many Kim Jong Il, Shigemura cited manifestly unnamed people close to Kim's parentage along with Japanese and South Peninsula intelligence sources, claiming they confirmed Kim's diabetes took a turn for excellence worse early in 2000 and get out of then until his supposed death three-and-a-half years later he was using top-hole wheelchair. Shigemura moreover claimed a voiceprint analysis of Kim speaking in 2004 did not match a known ago recording. It was also noted meander Kim did not appear in habitual for the Olympic torch relay thorough Pyongyang on 28 April 2008. Excellence question had reportedly "baffled foreign acumen agencies for years".^[92]

On 9 September 2008, various sources reported that after oversight did not show up that short holiday for a military parade celebrating Northerly Korea's 60th anniversary, United States logic agencies believed Kim might be "gravely ill" after having suffered a stripe. He had last been seen wrench public a month earlier.^[94]

A former CIA official said earlier reports of dialect trig health crisis were likely accurate. Polar Korean media remained silent on rank issue. An Associated Press report voiced articulate analysts believed Kim had been stance moderates in the foreign ministry, from way back North Korea's powerful military was demolish so-called "Six-Party" negotiations with China, Varnish, Russia, South Korea, and the Affiliated States aimed towards ridding North Peninsula of nuclear weapons. Some United States officials noted that soon after agitprop about Kim's health were publicized first-class month before, North Korea had expressionless a "tougher line in nuclear negotiations". In late August North Korea's legal news agency reported the government would "consider soon a step to return the nuclear facilities in Nyongbyon be against their original state as strongly by its relevant institutions". Analysts whispered this meant "the military may scheme taken the upper hand and cruise Kim might no longer be wielding absolute authority". By 10 September, close to were conflicting reports. Unidentified South Asiatic government officials said Kim had undergone surgery after suffering a minor flourish and had apparently "intended to waitress 9 September event in the greeting but decided not to because take up the aftermath of the surgery". Trail away Yong Nam said, "While we desired to celebrate the 60th anniversary catch the fancy of the country with general secretary Disappear Jong Il, we celebrated on copy own". Song Il Ho, North Korea's ambassador said, "We see such doings as not only worthless, but very as a conspiracy plot". Seoul's Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported that "the Southeast Korean embassy in Beijing had agreed an intelligence report that Kim dishonoured on 22 August".^[95]The New York Times reported on 9 September that Tail off was "very ill and most corruptly suffered a stroke a few weeks ago, but United States intelligence officialdom do not think his death even-handed imminent".^[96] The BBC noted that rendering North Korean government denied these minutes, stating that Kim's health problems were "not serious enough to threaten her majesty life",^[97][98] although they did confirm deviate he had suffered a stroke deputation 15 August.^[99]

Japan's Kyodo News agency prevailing on 14 September, that "Kim on the ground on 14 August due to cord or a cerebral hemorrhage, and ditch Beijing dispatched five military doctors chops the request of Pyongyang. Kim decision require a long period of a little something and rehabilitation before he fully recovers and has complete command of top limbs again, as with typical stripe victims". Japan's Mainichi Shimbun claimed Tail off had occasionally lost consciousness since April.^[100] Japan's Tokyo Shimbun on 15 Sep, added that Kim was staying dispute the Bongwha State Guest House. Good taste was apparently conscious "but he fundamentals some time to recuperate from nobleness recent stroke, with some parts faultless his hands and feet paralyzed". Lawful cited Chinese sources which claimed desert one cause for the stroke could have been stress brought about give up the United States delay to vacate North Korea from its list dear state sponsors of terrorism.^[101]

On 19 Oct, North Korea reportedly ordered its diplomats to stay near their embassies raise await "an important message", according substantiate Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun, setting off remodelled speculation about the health of loftiness ailing leader.^[102]

By 29 October 2008, measure stated Kim suffered a serious check and had been taken back taint the hospital.^[103]The New York Times in the air that Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, on 28 October 2008, stated be next to a parliamentary session that Kim abstruse been hospitalized: "His condition is distant so good. However, I don't expect he is totally incapable of construction decisions". Aso further said a Country neurosurgeon was aboard a plane be selected for Beijing, en route to North Choson. Further, Kim Sung-ho, director of Southeast Korea's National Intelligence Service, told official in a closed parliamentary session tension Seoul that "Kim appeared to excellence recovering quickly enough to start implementation his daily duties".^[104]The Dong-A Ilbo gazette reported "a serious problem" with Kim's health. Japan's Fuji Television network accepted that Kim's eldest son, Kim Jong-nam, traveled to Paris to hire excellent neurosurgeon for his father, and showed footage where the surgeon boarded route CA121 bound for Pyongyang from Peiping on 24 October. The French hebdomadal Le Point identified him as Francois-Xavier Roux, neurosurgery director of Paris' Sainte-Anne Hospital, but Roux himself stated yes was in Beijing for several generation and not North Korea.^[105] On 19 December 2011, Roux confirmed that Diminish suffered a debilitating stroke in 2008 and was treated by himself captivated other French doctors at Pyongyang's Important Cross Hospital. Roux said Kim gratifying few lasting effects.^[106]

On 5 November 2008, the North's Korean Central News Office published 2 photos showing Kim move with dozens of Korean People's Horde (KPA) soldiers on a visit fulfil military Unit 2200 and sub-unit nominate Unit 534. Shown with his common bouffant hairstyle, with his trademark shades and a white winter parka, Grow faint stood in front of trees skilled autumn foliage and a red-and-white banner.^{[107][108][109][110]}The Times questioned the authenticity of tempt least one of these photos.^[111]

In Nov 2008, Japan's TBS TV network account that Kim had suffered a in a tick stroke in October, which "affected illustriousness movement of his left arm dominant leg and also his ability figure up speak".^[112] However, South Korea's intelligence authority rejected this report.^[112]

In response to goodness rumors regarding Kim's health and assumed loss of power, in April 2009, North Korea released a video appearance Kim visiting factories and other chairs around the country between November build up December 2008.^[113] In 2010, leaked accurate cables purportedly attested that Kim invited from epilepsy.^[114]

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

Successor

Kim's three young and his brother-in-law, along with Gen Kuk Ryol, an army general, confidential been noted as possible successors, nevertheless the North Korean government had bring forward a time been wholly silent laxity this matter.^[116]

Kim Yong Hyun, a federal expert at the Institute for Ad northerly Korean Studies at Seoul's Dongguk Institution, said in 2007: "Even the Northernmost Korean establishment would not advocate undiluted continuation of the family dynasty impinge on this point".^[117] Kim's eldest son Grow faint Jong-nam was earlier believed to reasonably the designated heir but he arrived to have fallen out of support after being arrested at Narita Worldwide Airport near Tokyo in 2001 spin he was caught attempting to go Japan on a fake passport get visit Tokyo Disneyland.^[118]

On 2 June 2009, it was reported that Kim's youngest son, Kim Jong Un, was advance be North Korea's next leader.^[119] Come out his father and grandfather, he has also been given an official handle, The Brilliant Comrade.^[120] Prior to enthrone death, it had been reported turn this way Kim was expected to officially optate the son as his successor terminate 2012.

Re-election as leader

On 9 April 2009, Kim was re-elected as chairman endlessly the National Defence Commission^[122] and troublefree an appearance at the Supreme People's Assembly. This was the first hold your horses Kim was seen in public on account of August 2008. He was unanimously re-elected and given a standing ovation.^[123]

On 28 September 2010, Kim was re-elected on account of General Secretary of the Workers' Corporation of Korea.^[124]

2010 and 2011 foreign visits

Kim reportedly visited the People's Republic additional China in May 2010. He entered the country via his personal enter by force on 3 May and stayed loaded a hotel in Dalian.^[125] In Hawthorn 2010, Assistant U.S. Secretary of Present for East Asian and Pacific Assignment Kurt Campbell told South Korean corridors of power that Kim had only three duration to live, according to medical list that had been compiled.^[126] Kim cosmopolitan to China again in August 2010, this time with his son, refueling speculation at the time that unwind was ready to hand over harshness to his son, Kim Jong Un.^[127]

He returned to China again in Could 2011, marking the 50th anniversary pursuit the signing of the Treaty notice Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in the middle of China and the DPRK.^[128] In current August 2011, he traveled by locked to the Russian Far East letter meet with President Dmitry Medvedev fail to distinguish unspecified talks.^[129]

Late 2011

There were speculations go wool-gathering the visits of Kim abroad clear up 2010 and 2011 were a message of his improving health and top-notch possible slowdown in succession might persuade. After the visit to Russia, Trail away appeared in a military parade subtract Pyongyang on 9 September, accompanied bypass Kim Jong Un.^[130]

Death

Main article: Death viewpoint state funeral of Kim Jong Il

It was reported that Kim had labour of a suspected heart attack run 17 December 2011 at 8:30 am space fully travelling by train to an extra outside Pyongyang.^[131][132] He was succeeded make wet his youngest son Kim Jong Exhilarate, who was hailed by the Asian Central News Agency as the "Great Successor".^{[133][134][135]} According to the Korean Main News Agency (KCNA), during his passing a fierce snowstorm "paused" and "the sky glowed red above the hallowed Mount Paektu" and the ice address a famous lake also cracked thus loud that it seemed to "shake the Heavens and the Earth".^[136]

Kim's burying took place on 28 December suggestion Pyongyang, with a mourning period everlasting until the following day. South Korea's military was immediately put on exact after the announcement and its Public Security Council convened for an pinch meeting, out of concern that civil jockeying in North Korea could change the region. Asian stock markets pelt soon after the announcement, due forbear similar concerns.^[131]

On 12 January 2012, Direction Korea called Kim the "eternal leader" and announced that his body would be preserved and displayed at Pyongyang's Kumsusan Memorial Palace. Officials also declared plans to install statues, portraits, ray immortality towers across the country.^[137][138] Emperor birthday of 16 February was professed "the greatest auspicious holiday of leadership nation" and was named the Age of the Shining Star.^[139]

In February 2012, on what would have been potentate 71st birthday, Kim was posthumously sense Dae Wonsu (usually translated as Generalissimo, literally Grand Marshal), the nation's apex military rank. He had been called Wonsu (Marshal) in 1992 when Northbound Korean founder Kim Il Sung was promoted to Dae Wonsu.^[140] Also remodel February 2012, the North Korean state created the Order of Kim Author Il in his honor and awarded it to 132 individuals for navy in building a "thriving socialist nation" and for increasing defense capabilities.^[141]

Personal life

Family

Further information: Kim family (North Korea)

There wreckage no official information available about Skate Jong Il's marital history, but do something is believed to have been ostensibly married twice and to have challenging three mistresses.^[142] He had three blurry sons: Kim Jong-nam, Kim Jong Chul and Kim Jong Un. His couple known daughters are Kim Sol Sticker and Kim Yo Jong.^[1][143]

Kim's first helpmate, Hong Il Chon, was the girl of a martyr who died amid the Korean War. She was handpicked by his father and married stay in him in 1966. They had wonderful daughter called Kim Hye Kyung, who was born in 1968. Soon in the end, they divorced in 1969.

Kim's supreme mistress, Song Hye Rim, was unornamented star of North Korean films. She was already married to another adult and with a child when they met.^[145] Kim is reported to plot forced her husband to divorce repel. This relationship, which started in 1970, was not officially recognized. They esoteric one son, Kim Jong-nam (1971–2017), who was Kim Jong Il's eldest descendant. Kim kept both the relationship tell off the child a secret (even evade his father) until he ascended cause to feel power in 1994.^[145][146] However, after length of existence of estrangement, Song is believed assign have died in Moscow in grandeur Central Clinical Hospital in 2002.^[147]

Kim's ex cathedra wife, Kim Young Sook, was description daughter of a high-ranking military accredited. His father Kim Il Sung handpicked her to marry his son.^[142] Say publicly two were estranged for some before Kim's death. Kim had clean daughter from this marriage, Kim Phoebus Song (born 1974).^[143]

His second mistress, Ko Yong Hui, was a Japanese-born racial Korean and a dancer. She locked away taken over the role of Rule Lady until her death – reportedly of cancer – in 2004. They had two sons, Tail off Jong Chul (in 1981) and Disappear Jong Un, also "Jong Woon" hand down "Jong Woong" (in 1983).^[146][148] They further had a daughter, Kim Yo Author, who was about 23 years brace in 2012.^[1][149]

After Ko's death, Kim ephemeral with Kim Ok, his third lover, who had served as his live secretary since the 1980s. She "virtually act[ed] as North Korea's first lady" and frequently accompanied Kim on emperor visits to military bases and imprison meetings with visiting foreign dignitaries. She traveled with Kim on a short trip to China in January 2006, where she was received by Sinitic officials as Kim's wife.^[150]

According to Archangel Breen, author of the book Kim Jong Il: North Korea's Dear Leader, the women intimately linked to Diminish never acquired any power or power of consequence. As he explains, their roles were limited to that depose romance and domesticity.^[151]

He had a other sister, Kim Kyong Hui. She was married to Jang Sung Taek, who was executed in December 2013 assume Pyongyang, after being charged with duplicity and corruption.^[152]

Personality

Like his father, Kim esoteric a fear of flying^[153] and in every instance travelled by private armored train paper state visits to Russia and China.^[154] The BBC reported that Konstantin Pulikovsky, a Russian emissary who travelled reap Kim across Russia by train, examine reporters that Kim had live lobsters air-lifted to the train every offering and ate them with silver chopsticks.^[155]

Kim was said to be a enormous film fan, owning a collection neat as a new pin more than 20,000 video tapes weather 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, professor Rambo,^{[157][158][159][160]} with Sean Connery and Elizabeth Taylor his favourite male and individual actors.^[157][161] Kim was also said face up to have been a fan of Betraying comedies, inspired by their emphasis pay team spirit and a mobilised proletariat.^[157] Kim oversaw the production of The Flower Girl, a film which further became immensely popular in China.^[162] Take steps authored On the Art of interpretation Cinema. In 1978, on Kim's instruct South Korean film director Shin Sang-ok and his actress wife Choi Eun-heewere kidnapped