Kim Il-sung
1912 – 1994 North Korean revolutionary, founder and leader of North Korea
Founder of North Korea and patriarch of the world's only communist hereditary dynasty.
- Religion
- State atheism; posthumous cult (Juche).
- Affiliations
- Founder and first leader of North Korea; established the ruling Kim dynasty and the Juche ideology.
Born Kim Song-ju, he adopted the name Kim Il-sung as a guerrilla fighting the Japanese, and installed himself as North Korea's ruler with Soviet backing in 1948. He launched the Korean War, built a totalising personality cult and set up a family succession, holding the posthumous title 'Eternal President'.
Connections
- ally of Joseph Stalin — Installed with Soviet backing and approved his invasion of the South.
- family of Kim Jong-il — His father, whom he succeeded.
- family of Kim Jong-il — His son and successor.
- successor of Kim Jong-il — Groomed as heir and continued the dynasty.
- successor of Kim Jong-il — His son and heir who continued the family cult.
- family of Kim Jong-un — His grandfather, founder of the state.
- family of Kim Jong-un — His grandson, current leader.
- ally of Mao Zedong — Saved by Chinese intervention in the Korean War.
- ally of Mao Zedong — Sent Chinese forces to back him in the Korean War.