North Korea
Kim Il-sung (1912-1994)
He was born with the the name of Kim Sŏng-ju but changed it later on in life. Kim Il-sung was the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, normally referred to as North Korea. He held positions from Prime Minister to President but he was also leader of the Worker's Party of Korea.
When he was young, he joined a Marxist group after being arrested and jailed for unruly like behavior. This also ended his formal education. He was the youngest member of the Marxist group.
The Communist Party of Korea had been established in 1925 but it was thrown out for being too nationalist like in 1930. In 1931, he joined the Communist Party of China and joined anti-Japanese guerrilla groups. While there, he met his soon to be Communist mentor, Wei Zhengmin.In 1935, he took the name of Kim Il-sung which means "become the sun."
In 1945, the Soviet Union took over Pyongyang, a place in North Korea, and Stalin was in need of a new leader for the new government and Kim was recommended for it. He was allied with the Soviets for many years.
North Korea's decision to invade South Korea was Kim's doing, not a Soviet one. The North had taken over most of the South but when the United States stepped in for the South they pushed back those boundaries. The Armistice Line became permanent in 1953. Its said that during the war, Kim went to China and to the Soviet Union seeking help in ending the war. He realized that the chances of him ruling a unified Korea was unlikely with the U.S. and the UN helping the South.
On 8 July 1994, Kim Il-sung collapsed from a sudden heart attack. His death resulted in nationwide mourning. His funeral was attended by hundreds of thousands of people and his body was placed in a mausoleum where it was embalmed. His head lies on a Korean-style pillow and his body is covered with a flag from the Workers Party of Korea.
When he was young, he joined a Marxist group after being arrested and jailed for unruly like behavior. This also ended his formal education. He was the youngest member of the Marxist group.
The Communist Party of Korea had been established in 1925 but it was thrown out for being too nationalist like in 1930. In 1931, he joined the Communist Party of China and joined anti-Japanese guerrilla groups. While there, he met his soon to be Communist mentor, Wei Zhengmin.In 1935, he took the name of Kim Il-sung which means "become the sun."
In 1945, the Soviet Union took over Pyongyang, a place in North Korea, and Stalin was in need of a new leader for the new government and Kim was recommended for it. He was allied with the Soviets for many years.
North Korea's decision to invade South Korea was Kim's doing, not a Soviet one. The North had taken over most of the South but when the United States stepped in for the South they pushed back those boundaries. The Armistice Line became permanent in 1953. Its said that during the war, Kim went to China and to the Soviet Union seeking help in ending the war. He realized that the chances of him ruling a unified Korea was unlikely with the U.S. and the UN helping the South.
On 8 July 1994, Kim Il-sung collapsed from a sudden heart attack. His death resulted in nationwide mourning. His funeral was attended by hundreds of thousands of people and his body was placed in a mausoleum where it was embalmed. His head lies on a Korean-style pillow and his body is covered with a flag from the Workers Party of Korea.