Kim Il Sung

Founder of North Korea and long-serving communist leader (1912-1994)

Chronology: 1912-04-15 – 1994-07-08

Origins & Early Life

Kim Il Sung (born Kim Song Ju; 15 April 1912 – 8 July 1994) was a North Korean communist revolutionary, military officer, politician, and dictator who founded the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), also known as North Korea, in 1948, and led it until his death in 1994. He was succeeded by his son Kim Jong Il and posthumously declared Eternal President. He was the third-longest serving non-royal head of state and government in the 20th century, in office for more than 45 years. Kim was born in Japanese-ruled Korea and grew up in northeast China.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

During his teenage years, he became a communist and joined various anti-Japanese guerrilla groups, eventually joining the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1931, in which year northeast China was occupied by Japan. Kim took part in several groups led by the CCP. In 1942, he was assigned to the Soviet Red Army, leading him to stay in the Soviet Union until 1945. Following the division of Korea after Japan's surrender in World War II, he was put into power by the Soviet Union in North Korea, which also installed him as the leader of the Workers' Party of Korea. Kim Il Sung authorized the invasion of South Korea in 1950, triggering an...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Source: Wikipedia