Kim Il Sung

Kim Il-sung
김일성
Official Portrait of Il-Sung
Eternal leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (Appellation)
Incumbent
Assumed office 5 September 1998 Serving with Kim Jong-il
Preceded by	Appellation created
Succeeded by	Not applicable
President of North Korea
In office 28 December 1972 – 8 July 1994 Eternal President since 5 September 1998
Premier	Kim Il Pak Song-chol Li Jong-ok Kang Song-san Li Gun-mo Yon Hyong-muk
Preceded by	Position created a
Succeeded by	Position abolished b
Premier of North Korea
In office 9 September 1948 – 28 December 1972
Preceded by	Position created
Succeeded by	Kim Il
Deputy to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th Supreme People's Assembly
In office 2 September 1948 – 8 July 1994
General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea
In office 11 October 1966 – 8 July 1994
Preceded by	Himself (as Chairman)
Succeeded by	Kim Jong-il
Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers Party of Korea
In office 30 June 1949 – 11 October 1966
Preceded by	Kim Tu-bong
Succeeded by	Himself (as General Secretary)
Deputy Chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of North Korea
In office 28 August 1946 – 30 June 1949 Serving with Chu Yong-ha and Ho Ka-i
Chairman	Kim Tu-bong
Preceded by	Position created
Succeeded by	Pak Hon-yong (as 1st Deputy Chairman) and Ho Ka-i (as 2nd Deputy Chairman)
Chairman of the North Korea Bureau of the Communist Party of Korea
In office 17 December 1945 – 28 August 1946
General Secretary	Pak Hon-yong
Preceded by	Kim Yong-bom
Succeeded by	Kim Tu-bong (as WPNK chairman)
Chairman of the National Defence Commission
In office 27 December 1972 – 9 April 1993
Preceded by	Position created
Succeeded by	Kim Jong-il
Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army
In office 4 July 1950 – 24 December 1991
Preceded by	Choe Yong-gon
Succeeded by	Kim Jong-il
Personal details
Born	Kim Sŏng-ju (1912-04-15)15 April 1912 Mangyongdae, P'yŏng'yang-bu, P'yŏng'annam-do, Japanese Korea
Died	8 July 1994(1994-07-08) (aged 82) Pyongyang, North Korea
Cause of death	Myocardial infarction
Resting place	Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, Pyongyang
Nationality	Korean
Political party	Workers’ Party of Korea
Spouse(s)	Kim Jong-suk (died 1949) Kim Song-ae
Children	Kim Jong-il Kim Man-il Kim Kyong-hui Kim Kyong-jin Kim Pyong-il Kim Yong-il
Residence	Pyongyang, DPR Korea
Occupation	Eternal President
Profession	President of North Korea
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Soviet Union North Korea
Service/branch	Red Army  Korean People's Army Ground Force
Years of service	1941–1945 1948–1994
Rank	Dae wonsu  (Grand Marshal)
Commands	All  (Supreme commander)
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War
aChoi Yong-kun was previously head of state as the President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly. b Proclaimed "Eternal President of the Republic" after his death.

Kim Il-sung (Chosŏn'gŭl: 김일성; English pronunciation: /ˈkɪm ˈɪlˈsʊŋ, ˈsʌŋ/;Korean pronunciation: [kim ils͈ʌŋ]; born Kim Sŏng-ju (김성주); 15 April 1912 – 8 July 1994) was the supreme leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly referred to as North Korea, for 46 years, from its establishment in 1948 until his death in 1994. He held the posts of Prime Minister from 1948 to 1972 and President from 1972 to 1994. He was also the leader of the Workers' Party of Korea from 1949 to 1994 (titled as chairman from 1949 to 1966 and as general secretary after 1966). Coming to power after the overthrow of Japanese rule in 1945, he authorized the invasion of South Korea in 1950, triggering a defense of South Korea by the United Nations led by the United States. A cease-fire in the Korean War was signed on 27 July 1953.