Person1941 – 2011

Kim Jong Il

Son of Kim Il Sung and leader of North Korea (1994–2011). Named successor in 1980; ruled as chairman of the National Defence Commission under "military-first" politics. North Korea gives his birth year as 1942

He was formally named successor at the Workers' Party congress of 1980. When Kim Il Sung died in 1994 he ruled in the name of his father's last instructions, and in the mid-1990s the country suffered the severe famine known as the Arduous March. He became General Secretary of the party in 1997, and in 1998 revised the constitution to build a system centred on the Chairman of the National Defence Commission, proclaiming 'military-first' politics. He issued the June 15th North–South Joint Declaration with Kim Dae-jung in 2000 and the October 4 Inter-Korean Summit Declaration with Roh Moo-hyun in 2007. North Korea carried out its first nuclear test in 2006. He died in December 2011 and his son Kim Jong Un took power.

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6 related events

1
1994Death of Kim Il Sung and the Kim Jong Il Eraleader
Kim Il Sung died during the first North Korean nuclear crisis, and Kim Jong Il took over, ruling first in his father’s name and then as chairman of the National Defence Commission.
2
1995 – 1998Arduous Marchrelated figure
The collapse of the socialist bloc and repeated natural disasters brought severe famine to North Korea; many starved and defections increased.
3
2000June 15th North–South Joint Declarationleader
The first inter-Korean summit since division was held in Pyongyang, and a joint declaration was issued.
4
2006North Korea's First Nuclear Testleader
North Korea conducted its first nuclear test at Punggye-ri. The UN Security Council responded with sanctions.
5
2007October 4 Inter-Korean Summit Declarationleader
President Roh Moo-hyun and Chairman Kim Jong Il held the second inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang and issued a declaration on inter-Korean development and peace and prosperity.
6
2011Kim Jong Un Takes Powerrelated figure
After Kim Jong Il’s death his son Kim Jong Un inherited power, the third generation of the family to rule.

People who appear alongside

Kim Il Sung1912 – 1994
Leader of North Korea (1948–1994): chairman of the Provisional People’s Committee, then premier and president. Purged rivals after the Korean War and built one-man rule
Kim Young-sam1927 – 2015
14th President (1993–1998). Introduced the real-name financial system and full local autonomy; the 1997 currency crisis came at the end of his term
Kim Dae-jung1924 – 2009
15th President (1998–2003), the first transfer of power to the opposition by election. Steered recovery from the currency crisis and held the first inter-Korean summit; Nobel Peace Prize 2000
Roh Moo-hyun1946 – 2009
16th President (2003–2008). Held the second inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang in 2007 and issued the October 4 Declaration
Kim Jong Un
Son of Kim Jong Il and leader of North Korea since 2011; his birth year is unconfirmed

Themes this person appears in

Changing Unification Policies1948 – 2018
From “march north” to the Panmunjom Declaration — inter-Korean relations from confrontation to dialogue, through joint statements and agreements to summits (up to 2018)
Pyongyang194 BC – 2007
From Wanggeom-seong of Gojoseon to the inter-Korean summits — capital of Goguryeo, Western Capital of Goryeo, the great city on the Taedong