Kim Jong Il
Kim Jong-Il is the leader of North Korea, where he is officially referred to as "Dear Leader." He inherited his post from his father, Kim Il-Sung, who was called "Great Leader" throughout his 22 years in power. It was rumored that Kim Jong-Il is ailing, or even dead. After a one-month hiatus from public appearances, Jong--or a Jong look-alike--attended a soccer game between Sung and Pyongyang Universities, casting doubt on rumors of his death.1
Fast Facts
- Born on February 16, 1942
- Assumed office in 1994
- Referred to as "Dear Leader"
- Movie fan, owning a collection of more than 20,000 video tapes
- Wrote the book On the Art of the Cinema
- Ordered the kidnapping of South Korean director Shin Sang-Ok and wife Choi Eun-Hee to start a North Korean film industry
- Center of an expansive "cult of personality"
Rise to Power
The exact details of Kim Jong-Il's biography are a matter of intense debate between the official record as presented by North Korea, and research conducted by various historians around the world. When his father, Kim Il-Sung died in 1994, the deceased leader was granted the title of "Eternal President," and the office of president in North Korea was effectively abolished. Kim Jong-Il was promoted to Chairman of the National Defense Commission, which was declared to be the highest active position of the state.
Leader of North Korea
With the loss of the Soviet Union and China as major trade partners and nation-wide natural disasters, North Korea's economy nearly collapsed in the 1990s. In response, Kim Jong-Il has implemented a "military first" policy and introduced some mild economic reforms.
He has also attempted to improve foreign relations, particularly those with South Korea, though these efforts have largely been overshadowed by continued nuclear technology development and missile tests.
Rumors and Speculation
In 2008, rumors have circulated regarding Kim Jong-Il's status, some of which claim that he has been been assassinated, or disabled by illness.
On May 28, it was reported by South Korean media that Kim Jong-Il had been assassinated outside Pyongyang two days earlier. The report was based on information provided by unidentified informants from China and South Korea. The government and state controlled media of North Korea denied the report from the beginning. On May 29, 2008 the government of South Korea issued an official statement denying the report.2
On September 9, Kim Jong Il failed to attend the 60th Anniversary celebration of North Korea's founding, fueling speculation that he had been incapacitated by illness. According to U.S. intelligence, Il may have suffered stroke.3
After rumors of his death, Jong made his first public appearance at a soccer game between the Universities Sung and Pyongyang at the beginning of October. Officials from South Korea and the United States believe Jong may have suffered a stroke, but North Korean officials deny the rumors.1
Related pages on Mahalo
Kim Jong Il Body Doubles | Inter-Korean Summit | N. Korea Nuclear Deadline | North Korea | War on Terror | Neoconservatives | George W. Bush | Vladimir Putin | Nuclear Proliferation | Weapons of Mass Destruction | Kim Jong Il Stroke
Categories
