Who is the leader of North Korea? If you’ve been keeping track of world politics, you’d probably say that it’s Kim Jong Un. While Kim Jong Un has been referred to as the Supreme leader during his tenure leading one of the world’s most secretive and conflicted countries, it turns out that Kim Il Sung, his grandfather, has retained the title of Eternal leader of the People’s Republic of North Korea. Even though Kim Il Sung has been dead for over 20 years, his legacy continues thanks to his role in founding North Korea and the propaganda machine he created.
Before there was North Korea
As controversial as North Korea is and its rulers have been, much of the controversy owes to the regional conflicts that surrounded and continue to engulf the Korean peninsula. The early history of the Korean peninsula featured the transition from the tribal rule of the 3 kingdoms period, which lasted from approximately 57 BCE to 668 CE, to the Dynasty period, which featured the succession of the Goryeo, Joseon and Korean Empire dynasties. It was during the Joseon period that Japan first tried to assert its imperial presence, ultimately failing to conquer the area. Japan was reduced to influencing the region through trade.
Japanese rule
Japanese imperial ambitions finally prevailed by 1910. Having won the Russo-Japanese war in 1905, Japan was able to claim previously occupied or influenced territory, including the Korean peninsula. The Japanese occupation of Korea was not viewed favorably by Koreans, particularly given the Japanese practice of forcing Korean women into sexual slavery. With Japan’s defeat in World War II ending its imperial ambitions, the relief that Korea anticipated dissipated quickly. United Nations intervention led to the creation of the Soviet-influenced People’s Republic of North Korea and the Republic of Korea in the South, backed by the United States. Given the differences in political ideology, with the North being a one-party socialist government and the south being a
capitalist, multi-party system, further tensions were inevitable.
Kim Il Sung’s rise
North Korea’s first leader emerged amid the tensions that would inevitably lead to the military division of the Korean peninsula. Kim || Sung was born in 1912 but spent his youth in Manchuria to escape the Japanese occupation with his family. Kim would eventually become involved in Communist activities and spent time in jail as a result of his involvement. His involvement in the Communist party, and aversion to Japanese rule, led to his participation in the guerrilla resistance movement against the Japanese during the 30’s; it was via this activity that he eventually
was recruited by the Soviet military and sent for military and political training. Given Kim’s affiliation with the Soviet Union, it was no surprise that he was appointed chairman of the newly created North Korea, becoming the premier of the People’s republic of North Korea after the UN partition in 1948.
The Korean War
Emboldened by his new power and Soviet-backed ambitions, Kim Il Sung attempted to create an entirely communist state throughout the Korean peninsula. His attempt, however, was ultimately successful. In 1950, After crossing the 38th parallel with 75,000 troops, the North Korean People’s Army was met with the combined force of South Korean and American troops. 3 years and 5 million casualties later, the Korean war came to an end, resulting in an armistice that averted an escalated war that would have embroiled the Soviet Union, China and the
The United States. Although he was unsuccessful in united the Korean Peninsula, Kim’s role in leading North Korea served as a proxy battleground between the cold war tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States. During the post-Korean War period, Kim directed his attention to building his power base in North Korea. Based on Communist principles, Kim Il Sung promoted the ideology of Juche or self-reliance. This led to intensive investment in various industrial operations, including mining and steel production, as well as military development. This investment actually outpaced that of South Korea during the period. However, it was clear that the state-controlled economy, with restrictions on media and travel as well as property ownership, could only perform for so long, and South Korea eventually rose beyond Kim’s North Korea by the 1980’s.
The reign of Kim Il Sung
Given the political, economic and societal damages, North Korea had endured from the period of Japanese occupation through the Korean war, Kim Il Sung’s rise and preservation of power is not as astonishing when one considers the lack of political stability in the region. What few may have anticipated was Kim’s obsession with power and state control and his willingness to use all means necessary to retain his role. Among his tactics were the development of a cult of personality that demanded allegiance to him as the state leader. This promotion led to his deification among the Korean people; for those who dissented, they were either imprisoned or sent to work in gulag-style prison camps. The songbun class system he imposed further stratified North Korean society and determined various factors of existence, such as food rations, housing and employment, based on allegiance to the state. Kim also promoted the practice of abducting foreign nationals as a means of bolstering state economic missions. While abduction is not commonly practiced, the class divisions, imprisonment and prison camps are still a dreaded legacy of Kim Il Sung’s rule.
The end of his reign
Kim’s propaganda system was ultimately effective in convincing the North Korean people of his mythical capabilities despite enduring the political fear tactics he imposed and the famines that arose during the 1990’s. This prominence was in part bolstered by the backing of The Soviet Union and China, two close communist allies. Kim was able to use his political leverage to foment aggression against South Korea; tensions briefly improved during the late 80’s, coinciding with North Korea’s participation in the Seoul Olympics in 1988 and the admittance of
North Korea into the UN in 1991, but soured when North Korea resumed its nuclear program in 1993. Part of Kim’s strategy was to ensure that no one perceive any imperfections relative to his presentation or appearance. Despite having a tumor located on the back of his neck, Kim was able to maintain his image of impeccable supremacy thanks to strict controls for how the media
depicted him. All of this could only achieve so much, as Kim eventually died of a heart attack in 1994. Kim’s death before a planned meeting between North and South Korean leaders effectively hindering future attempts at reconciliation. Ultimately, Kim was remembered as the “Dear Leader” he sought to be. His death was a national day of mourning and, after being embalmed, his body was placed in a public Mausoleum in Pyongyang. His death led to a 3 year mourning period that coincided with his succession by his son, Kim Jong ll.
Kim Il Sung’s Legacy
With a falsely reported assassination attempt in 1986, Kim Il Sung had made every effort to ensure a succession of power after his 46 years of rule. North Korea became the only hereditary communist state, though this seemingly streamlined succession did not abate the large debts North Korea had accrued from foreign investors, the lack of affinity from fellow communist powers and the intense food shortages North Korea has experienced. Kim Il Sung’s image is prominently displayed throughout North Korea and there are hundreds of statues that have been
erected to commemorate him. His name was also lent to a variety of institutions and facilities throughout North Korea, including Kim Il-sung University. With Kim Jong Il’s death in 2011, Kim Jong Un has been the next in the Kim dynasty to assume the role of North Korean leader. His reign has not been without controversy, though he has managed to promote some reconciliation with South Korea that was only a possibility during his grandfather’s reign. Unfortunately, much of the hardship that North Korean’s have endured, including border closures, trade restrictions and famine, continue to loom during these unprecedented times. Although he was promoted as the great successor, there is only so much that he can do relative to the power dynamic of the North Korean political system.
Ultimately, Kim ll Sung’s efforts to create a flourishing Korea united under his rule have remained a fantasy. The first Supreme leader of The people’s republic of North Korea is remembered more for his totalitarian rigidity and the hardships he subjected on the Korean people than for any of his ideological merits. Though portrayed as a god revered to this day, Kim Il Sung was merely a man trying to maintain his power grip in a hotly contested and long-afflicted region of the world. The turmoil and travails that continue to afflict North Korea to this day continue the
results of policies that Kim instituted upon its independence. If there is any legacy to emerge from Kim Il Sung’s turbulent rule, it is that peace and prosperity are not the product of a single, great leader.