Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il (born
February 16,
1941) has been the leader of
Democratic People's Republic of Korea since
1994. Officially he is the
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 (the ruling party since 1948). He succeeded his father
Kim Il-sung, the founder of Democratic People's Republic of Korea, who died in
1994.
Due to the secretive nature of the North Korean government, many official claims about Kim's life and activities are inconsistent with outside sources.
Kim Jong-il's official biography states that he was born at
Mount Paektu in northern Korea on
February 16,
1942.
Soviet records show he was born in the
Siberian village of
Vyatskoye, near
Khabarovsk, on
February 16,
1941, where his father, Kim Il-sung, was a
captain and
battalion commander in the Soviet 88th Brigade, which was made up of Chinese and Korean exiles. It is believed that his official birth year was adjusted so he would be seen to be 50 at the time of his father's eightieth birthday.
Kim Jong-il's official biography also holds that his birth at Mount Paektu was foretold by a
swallow, and that his birth was heralded by the appearance of a double rainbow over the mountain and a new star in the heavens.
Kim Jong-il's mother was Kim Il-sung's first wife,
Kim Jong-suk. During his youth in the Soviet Union, Kim Jong-il was known as
Yuri Irsenovich Kim (), taking his
patronymic from his father's
russified name, Ir-sen.
Kim was a young child when
World War II ended in 1945. His father returned to
Pyongyang in September 1945, and in late November the younger Kim returned to Korea via a Soviet ship that landed at
Sonbong (Unggi). The family moved into a former Japanese officer's mansion in Pyongyang, with a garden and pool. Kim Jong-il's brother
Shura Kim (also known as the first Kim Pyong-il) drowned there in 1948. In 1948, Kim Jong-il began primary school. In 1949, his mother died in pregnancy.
Kim probably received most of his education in the
People's Republic of China, where he was sent away from his father for safety during the
Korean War. According to the official biography, he graduated from Namsan School in
Pyongyang, a special school for the children of communist party officials. He is later said to have attended
Kim Il-sung University and to have majored in Political Economy, graduating in 1964. His graduating class won the highest academic honor, Double Chollima. By the time of his graduation, his father, revered in the government's official pronouncements as "the Great Leader" (위대한 수령), had firmly consolidated control over the government. He is also said to have received English language education at the
University of Malta in the early 1970s, on his infrequent holidays in
Malta as guest of
Prime Minister Dom Mintoff.
["Kim is a baby rattling the sides of a cot", Guardian Unlimited, Dec. 30, 2002.]The elder Kim had meanwhile remarried and had another son,
Kim Pyong-il. It is unclear if Jong-il was chosen over Pyong-il, or whether Pyong-il was ever seriously considered as successor by his father. Since 1988, Kim Pyong-il has served in a series of North Korean embassies in Europe and is currently the North Korean ambassador to
Poland. It is suspected that Kim Pyong-il was exiled to these distant posts by
Kim Il-sung in order to avoid a power struggle between his two sons.
After graduating in 1964, Kim Jong-il began his ascension through the ranks of the ruling
Korean Workers' Party, working first in the party's elite Organization Department before being named a member of the
Politburo in 1968. In 1969 he was appointed deputy director of the
Propaganda and Agitation Department.
 |
Kim Jong-il (left), with his father Kim Il-sung around 1986. |
In 1973, Kim was made Party secretary of organization and propaganda, and in 1974, he was officially designated his father's successor. During the next 15 years, he accumulated further positions, including Minister of Culture and head of party operations against South Korea.
Kim gradually made his presence felt within the Korean Workers Party from the Seventh Plenum of the Fifth Central Committee in September 1973, leading the "Three Revolution Team" campaigns. He was often referred to as the "Party Center", due to his growing influence over the daily operations of the Party.
By the time of the Sixth Party Congress in October 1980, Kim Jong-il's control of the Party operation was complete. He was given senior posts in the
Politburo, the Military Commission and the party
Secretariat. When he was made a member of the Seventh Supreme People's Assembly in February 1982, it had become clear to international observers that he was the heir apparent to succeed his father as the supreme leader of the DPRK.
At this time Kim assumed the title "Dear Leader" (친애하" 지도자,
ch'inaehanŭn chidoja)
["North Korea's dear leader less dear", Fairfax Digital, November 19, 2004. ], the government began building a
personality cult around him patterned after that of his father, the "Great Leader". Kim Jong-il was regularly hailed by the media as the "peerless leader" and "the great successor to the revolutionary cause". He emerged as the most powerful figure behind his father in North Korea.
In 1991, Kim was also named supreme commander of the North Korean armed forces. Since the Army is the real foundation of power in North Korea, this was a vital step. It appears that the veteran Defense Minister,
Oh Jin-wu, one of Kim Il-sung's most loyal subordinates, engineered Kim Jong-il's acceptance by the Army as the next leader of the North Korea, despite his lack of military service. The only other possible leadership candidate, Prime Minister
Kim Il (no relation), was removed from his posts in 1976. In 1992, Kim Il-sung publicly stated that his son was in charge of all internal affairs in North Korea.
According to defector
Hwang Jang-yop, the North Korean system became even more centralized and autocratic under Kim Jong-il than it had been under his father. Although Kim Il-sung required his ministers to be loyal to him, he nonetheless sought their advice in decision-making; Kim Jong-il demands absolute obedience and agreement, and views any deviation from his thinking as a sign of disloyalty. According to Hwang, Kim Jong-il personally directs even minor details of state affairs, such as the size of houses for party secretaries and the delivery of gifts to his subordinates.
[Testimony of Hwang Jang-yop]By the 1980s, North Korea experienced severe economic stagnation. Kim Il-sung's policy of
juche (self-reliance) cut the country off from almost all external trade, even with its traditional partners, the Soviet Union and China.
South Korea accused Kim of ordering the 1983
bombing in Rangoon, Burma (now
Yangon,
Myanmar), which killed 17 visiting South Korean officials, including four cabinet members, and another in 1987 which killed all 115 on board
Korean Air Flight 858. No direct evidence has emerged to link Kim to the bombings. A North Korean agent,
Kim Hyon Hui, confessed to planting a bomb in the case of the second, saying the operation was ordered by Kim Jong-il personally.
In 1992 Kim Jong-il's voice was broadcast for the first and only time. During a military parade, he approached the microphone and said "Glory to the heroic soldiers of the people's army!"
Kim Il-sung died in 1994 at age 82, and Kim Jong-il assumed control of the Party and state apparatus. Although the post of President was left vacant, and appears to have been abolished in deference to the memory of Kim Il-sung, Kim officially took the titles of General Secretary of the
Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the
National Defense Commission, the real center of power in North Korea, on
October 8,
1997. In 1998, this position was declared to be "the highest post of the state", so Kim may be regarded as North Korean head of state from that date. This is the first, and so far only, time a
communist country's leadership has progressed in a
dynastic succession. Since Kim is not the president, he is not constitutionally required to hold elections to confirm his legitimacy and has not done so.
The state-controlled
economy continued to stagnate throughout the 1990s, as a result of poor industrial and agricultural productivity, the loss of guaranteed markets following the fall of the Soviet Union and the introduction of a market economy in China, and the state's continued large expenditures on armaments, possibly the highest relative to the size of the economy of any country in the world. By 2000, there were frequent reports from reliable sources (such as the
UN) of famine in all parts of North Korea except
Pyongyang. North Korean citizens ran increasingly desperate risks to escape from the country, mainly into China.
On the domestic front, Kim has given occasional signs that he favors economic reforms similar to those carried out in China by
Deng Xiaoping, and on visits to China he has expressed admiration for China's economic progress. In 2002, Kim Jong-il declared that "money should be capable of measuring the worth of all commodities"
["On North Korea's streets, pink and tangerine buses", Christian Science Monitor, June 2, 2005.]. North Korea has begun limited market experimentation.
In the time span coinciding with
Kim Dae-jung's visit to the North (see the section on international affairs below), North Korea introduced a number of economic changes, including price and wage increases (June 2002). Some analysts said that these measures were designed to lift production and rein in the black market.
["Economy root to N Korea crisis", BBC News, Apr. 12, 2005.] Kim announced plans to import and develop new technologies and ambitions to develop North Korea's fledgling
software industry.
Kaesong Industrial Park is being developed just north of the border, with the planned participation of 250 South Korean companies, employing 100,000 North Koreans, by 2007.
["Kaesong, model for Korean cooperation", Washington Times, May 28, 2005.]North Korea does not seem to be in imminent danger of collapse, despite its international and economic difficulties. Trade with China nearly doubled between 2002 and 2004 to
US$1.39 billion.
["Despite U.S. Attempts, N. Korea Anything but Isolated", Washington Post, May 11, 2005]Kim's possible successor is a continuing topic of speculation. South Korean media have suggested that he is grooming his son,
Kim Jong-chul. His eldest son,
Kim Jong-nam, was earlier believed to be the designated heir, but he appears to have fallen out of favour after being arrested in New Tokyo International Airport (now
Narita International Airport) in
Narita,
Japan, near
Tokyo, in 2001 while traveling on a forged passport, when he wanted to visit
Tokyo Disneyland.
On
April 22 2004 a large explosion occurred at the
Ryongch'ŏn train station nine hours after a train passed through the station returning Kim from his visit to China. The
Red Cross reported 54 killed and 1,249 injured. Despite speculations of an assassination attempt at the time, South Korea later said it appeared to be an accident.
["A Mystery in China: Is North Korea's Leader in Town?", New York Times, January 13, 2006.]In November 2004, the
ITAR-TASS news agency published reports that unnamed foreign diplomats in Pyongyang had observed the removal of portraits of Kim Jong-il around the country.
["Where Have All Kim Jong-il's Portraits Gone?", The Chosun Ilbo, Nov. 17, 2004.] The North Korean government has vigorously denied these reports. Radiopress, the Japanese radio monitoring agency, reported later that month that North Korean media stopped referring to Kim by the honorific "Dear Leader" and that instead
Korean Central Television, the
Korean Central News Agency and other media described him under "lesser" titles such as "General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea", "Chairman of the
DPRK National Defense Commission", and "Supreme Commander of the
Korean People's Army".
It is unclear whether the possible curtailing of Kim's
personality cult indicated a struggle within the North Korean leadership or whether it was a deliberate attempt by Kim to moderate his image in the outside world.
["The case of Kim Jong-il's missing portraits", Asia Times, Nov. 20, 2004.][Removal of Kim Jong Il Portraits in North Korea Causes Speculation", Assoc. for Asian Research, Nov. 13, 2004.] Current KCTV news broadcasts make frequent use of honorifics such as "Great Leader," "Dear General," and "Dear Father," and occasionally "The Sun of the 21st Century."
Kim Jong-il's government has made some modest efforts to improve relations with
South Korea, and the election of
Kim Dae-jung as South Korean president in 1997 created an opportunity for negotiations. In June
2000 the two leaders held a summit meeting, the first such meeting. But the two sides were subsequently unable to agree on any substantial (as opposed to symbolic) improvement in their relations. (For additional details on the June 2000 summit between the leaders of the two Koreas, see
Sunshine Policy.)
Kim's relationship with the
United States has been more difficult. During the
Clinton administration, U.S. and North Korea signed the
Agreed Framework following a U.S. military buildup near the country, with the U.S. considering bombing the active
Yongbyon nuclear reactor [Interview: Ashton Carter, Frontline, March 3, 2003]. Under this agreement North Korea would shut down its graphite-moderated nuclear reactors and
plutonium processing program in exchange for two light water reactors paid for mostly by South Korea, together with interim fuel oil shipments by the U.S. In part because of U.S. Congressional opposition, construction of the light-water reactors fell behind schedule and delivery of the fuel oil was often late. North Korea was supposed to use these for energy only but was accused by the U.S. of pursuing nuclear weapons.
With the election of
George W. Bush in 2000, the U.S. adopted a tougher, more aggressive stance toward North Korea. The Bush administration cut off one-on-one diplomatic relations initiated by the Clinton administration and accused North Korea of violating the spirit of the Agreed Framework by developing a secret uranium program that the U.S. believed would circumvent the agreement. The U.S. reported that North Korea confirmed the allegation, though North Korea denied this.
["Did North Korea Cheat?", Foreign Affairs, Jan/Feb 2005] ["J. Kelly Failed to Produce ‘Evidence' in Pyongyang"; Framed up "Admission" Story, The People's Korea, 2003.] North Korea stated it had a right to build nuclear weapons for defense unless the U.S. agreed to a non-aggression treaty. Bush declared North Korea to be part of the "
Axis of Evil" along with
Iran and
Iraq. In December 2002, the U.S. stopped shipment of fuel oil it was providing under the Agreed Framework. On
January 10,
2003, North Korea withdrew from the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
On
July 4, 2006, North Korea tested four or five short range missiles, which landed in the Sea of Japan. The sixth missile, the
Taepodong 2, was a long range missile but either failed or was aborted 40 seconds after launch. The seventh missile was launched the following day at 8:22 UTC. Media reports out of South Korea indicate that North Korea has three to four more missiles on launch pads and ready for firing. These missiles are believed to be of short to medium range. Many in the international community are now calling for more aggressive talks to have North Korea give up its nuclear weapons. ''See also:
North Korea and weapons of mass destructionLike his father, Kim Jong-il has
absolute power and has created an extensive
personality cult in North Korea, in which Kim is praised and honored as a "
hero", great
statesman, a "peerlessly great man," and even, as some sources report a "
God-king".
There is no official information available about the marital history of the leader of the highly secretive government, but Kim is widely believed to have been married three times. His last wife,
Ko Young-hee (or Ko Yong Hi), reportedly died of cancer in
2004 [ N. Korean leader has secret 'wife', CNN.com, July 23, 2006]. Since then, Kim has been living with
Kim Ok, who had served as his personal secretary since the 1980s.
Kim was also married to
Kim Young-suk, although they have been estranged for some years. He has a daughter,
Kim Sul-song (born 1974), from this marriage. His eldest son,
Kim Jong-nam, was born to
Song Hye-rim in 1971. With Ko Yong-Hi, he had another son,
Kim Jong-chul, in 1981, and there is reported to be a second son,
Kim Jong-un (name also spelled "Jong Woon" or "Jong Woong"). His second favorite mistress, Kyung-hwa Chang-ok had three children by him before she defected to South Korea in 2002. In August 2004, the Western media reported that Kim Jong-il's mistress Ko had recently died at the age of 51 from cancer.
["N Korean leader's lover 'dead'", BBC News, August 27, 2004.] As of 2005, Kim Jong-chul was said to be his heir apparent.
["Chairman Kim's dissolving kingdom", The Sunday Times, January 30, 2005.]Kim is said to be a film fan, owning a collection of some 20,000 video tapes
["North Korean leader loves Hennessey, Bond movies", CNN, Jan. 8, 2003], which Kim himself denies. It has been reported that Kim is an avid fan of the
Friday The 13th series and
Rambo among others.
["The Madness of Kim Jong Il", Guardian Unlimited, November 2, 2003.] In 1978, on the orders of Kim, the South Korean film director
Shin Sang-ok and his actress wife
Choe Eun-hui were kidnapped in order to build a North Korean film industry.
["Kidnapped by North Korea", BBC News, March 5, 2003.] However, Kim himself has said he rarely watches movies. He reportedly enjoys following
National Basketball Association games.
Madeleine Albright ended her summit with Kim by presenting him with a basketball signed by
Michael Jordan.
["Albright Reports Progress in Talks with North Korea", New York Times, October 25, 2000.]Like his father, he has a profound
fear of flying, and has always traveled by private train for state visits to Russia and China. He also sometimes wears lifts and platform shoes (he is 160 cm, or 5 feet, 3 inches tall)
[North Korea: A secretive society and its strange leader, CTV.ca, July 5, 2006].
Before 1995, Kim was frequently accused of dishonesty, drunkenness, sexual excess of various kinds and even insanity, particularly in the South Korean press. He is also made fun of for wearing platform shoes and being a fan of
James Bond. The
BBC reported that
Konstantin Pulikovsky, a Russian emissary who traveled with Kim Jong-il across
Russia by train told reporters that Kim had live lobsters air-lifted to the train every day which he ate with
silver chopsticks.
["Profile: Kim Jong-il", BBC News, July 31, 2003.] He is also known to be one of the biggest clients of French vintner
Hennessy as well as of
Mercedes Benz. Kim is reported to have fathered thirteen illegitimate children.
["Leadership Succession", GlobalSecurity.org.]* Kim Jong-il was satirized in the U.S. movie
Team America: World Police, in which Kim masterminds a global terrorist plot.
* Two
South Koreans: an
Incheon resident named
Bae Eun-sik, and a
Seoul businessman named
Kim Young-sik, do light-hearted acts of Kim Jong-il, copying his dress, speech, and mannerisms for movies, television shows, commercials, and at parties.
*
The Stephanie Miller Show, distributed on the
Jones Radio Network, repeatedly lampoons the
North Korean dictator. Vocal impressionist
Jim Ward's characterization uses
hip hop slang to mock him (e.g., "K to the J to the I.L. in the hizzouse!").
* Kim was also parodied by
MADtv's
Bobby Lee.
* On
The Late Show with David Letterman,
Dave frequently mentions Kim Jong-il's "brother", Menta Lee-il. In July 2006, announcing that Jong-il had just been married (to his longtime secretary, Kim Ok, according to South Korea's
Yonhap news agency; no confirmation was forthcoming as of early August), Letterman said Jong-il "tried to consummate his marriage, and his wife became Physic Lee-il." Two nights earlier, he noted that Jong-il's "honeymoon's going well; last night, he successfully test-fired a short-range missile."
* In 2003,
Bill Maher refers to Kim Jong-il as "Lil Kim" during his live comedy performance
Bill Maher: Victory Begins At Home.
*
Tourism in North Korea*
North Korean abductions of South Koreans*
List of Dictators*
List of Korea-related topics* Michael Breen,
Kim Jong-il: North Korea's Dear Leader, John Wiley and Sons (January, 2004), hardcover, 228 pages, ISBN 0470821310
* Bradley Martin,
Under The Loving Care Of The Fatherly Leader: North Korea And The Kim Dynasty, St. Martins (October, 2004), hardcover, 868 pages, ISBN 0312322216
* Kenji Fujimoto.
I Was Kim Jong Il's Cook. [
1]
*
Kim Jong Il: Brief History " Foreign Languages Publishing House, Pyongyang DPR Korea (1998)
*
Born in the USSR " Kim Jong-il's childhood.
*
The case of Kim Jong-il's missing portraits analysis by Kosuke Takahashi (November 20, 2004)
*
The many family secrets of Kim Jong Il*
BBC Profile of Kim Jong-il*
Young Juche League*
"Hidden Daughter" Visits Kim Jong-il Every Year (also includes photos of Kim during his youth)*
Death of Kim's consort: Dynastic implications*
Kim's family tree (in Korean)
Video
*
Kim Jong Il Video*
Kim Jong Il's Roses
