Thesupreme leader of North Korea(Korean:최고령도자;MR:Ch'oego Ryŏngdoja) is thede factohereditaryleadershipof theWorkers' Party of Korea,the stateand theKorean People's Army.The title is honorary, given only after death in the first two cases. More broadly it can also refer to the "Supreme Leader system" (Suryeong-je), which is defined as "a system that aims to ensure continuous leadership by the Supreme Leader across generations."[1]Different titles were used in North Korean propaganda that could be translated from Korean as "Great Leader", "Dear Leader", or "Supreme Leader".
| Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Personal Secretariat | |
| Type | |
| Term length | Life tenure |
| Formation | 9 September 1948 |
| First holder | Kim Il Sung |
| Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea | |
|---|---|
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 조선민주주의인민공화국최고령도자 |
| Hanja | Triều Tiên dân chủ chủ nghĩa nhân dân nước cộng hoà tối cao người lãnh đạo |
Overview
edit"Supreme Leader" was originally a designation used for Kim Il Sung only, and only after his death.[1]During his lifetime he was known as "Great Leader" (위대한 수령), a title to this day that only refers to him.[1]His son, Kim Jong Il, was known as "Dear Leader" (친애하는 령도자) during his lifetime, and only after death did North Korean media begin calling him "Supreme Leader", in the tradition of his father.[1]The grandson, Kim Jong Un, was first called "Supreme Leader" in a North Korean newspaper article dated October 3, 2020, with the frequency increasing since then, including sometimes "great Supreme Leader".[1]He was the first to be frequently called "Supreme Leader" while still alive, and at the relatively young age of 37.[1]The 2020 newspaper article was part of the official preparations to appoint Kim Jong Un as theGeneral Secretary of the Workers' Party of Koreaie. leader of the Workers' Party, the sole political body in the country and the paramount leader position.[1][2]Since November 2021, South Korean media have all reported that Kim Jong Un is called "Supreme Leader" (Suryeong) in North Korea.[1]
List
edit| No | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Title(s) | Period | Tenure (Time in office) |
Ideological contribution(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
Kim Il Sung 김일성 (1912–1994) 
|
Premierof theCabinetof theDPRK | 9 September 1948[3]– 28 December 1972[4] | 9 September 1948[3] — 8 July 1994[5] (45 years, 302 days) |
Juche |
| Chairman of the WPK | 24 June 1949[6]– 12 October 1966[7] | |||||
| General Secretaryof the WPK | 12 October 1966[7]– 8 July 1994[5] | |||||
| Presidentof the DPRK | 28 December 1972[8]– 8 July 1994[5] | |||||
| 2 | 
|
Kim Jong Il 김정일 (1941–2011) 
|
Chairmanof theNational Defence Commissionof theDPRK | 9 April 1993[9]– 17 December 2011[10] | 8 July 1994[9] — 17 December 2011[10] (17 years, 162 days) |
Kimilsungism Songun Ten Principles |
| General Secretaryof the WPK | 8 October 1997[9]– 17 December 2011[10] | |||||
| 3 | 
|
Kim Jong Un 김정은 (born 1982 or 1983/1984) 
|
First Secretaryof the WPK | 11 April 2012[11]– 9 May 2016[12] | 17 December 2011[13] — present (13 years, 72 days) |
Kimilsungism–Kimjongilism Byungjin |
| First Chairmanof theNational Defence Commissionof theDPRK | 11 April 2012[14]– 29 June 2016[15] | |||||
| Chairmanof the WPK | 9 May 2016[16]– 10 January 2021[17] | |||||
| Presidentof theState Affairs Commissionof theDPRK | 29 June 2016[15]– present | |||||
| General Secretaryof the WPK | 10 January 2021[18]– present |
- Boldoffices refer to the highest positions in the Workers' Party of Korea, the lone political party of North Korea.
Timeline
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See also
edit
References
edit- ^abcdefghIsozaki, Atsuhito (6 December 2021)."Kim Jong Un and the 'Supreme Leader System'".The Diplomat.
- ^"Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Cuts Tape for Completion of Sunchon Phosphatic Fertilizer Factory".Kim Il Sung University.Korean Central News Agency(KCNA). 2 May 2020. Archived fromthe originalon 17 May 2020.Retrieved2 May2020.
Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and supreme commander of the armed forces of the DPRK, attended the ceremony.
- ^ab"Background Note: North Korea".Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.United States Department of State.August 2008.Retrieved18 September2023.
- ^Based on the creation of theConstitution of North Korea,which established the Presidency of North Korea and abolished the Premier of North Korea position.
- ^abcBased on date of death of Kim Il-Sung
- ^Defense Language Institute(July 1971)."Korean: Basic Course: Area Background"(PDF).U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare.p. 254.Retrieved18 September2023.
the Korean Workers Party, under the chairmanship of Kim Il-sung, was formed on June 24, 1949, as the result of a merger between the North Korean Workers Party and the South Korean Workers Party
- ^abYang, Sŏng-chʻŏl (1999).The North and South Korean Political Aystems: A Comparative Analysis.Elizabeth, NJ: Hollym. p. 270.ISBN978-1-56591-105-5.
The chairmanship post was replaced by the office of the general secretary at the Fourteenth Plenum of the WPK Fourth Central Committee (CC) on October 12, 1966, and Kim has been the WPK's general secretary ever since
- ^Based on the outcome of the1972 North Korean parliamentary election
- ^abc"Timeline: Kim Jong-il".The Guardian.The Associated Press.19 December 2011.Retrieved18 September2023.
- ^abcBased on date of death of Kim Jong-Il
- ^Sang-Hun, Choe (11 April 2012)."As Rocket Launching Nears, North Korea Continues Shift to New 'Supreme Leader'".The New York Times.Retrieved18 September2023.
The governing Workers' Party... declared Mr. Kim "supreme leader" on Wednesday and awarded him the title of first secretary.
- ^"North Korea leader Kim becomes chairman of ruling Workers' Party: NHK".Reuters.9 May 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 29 August 2017.Retrieved6 January2020.
Kim Jong Un, who has been first secretary of the ruling party, became chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea
- ^"Kim Jong Il, leader of North Korea, dies".History (American TV network).15 December 2020.Retrieved27 November2023.
- ^Sang-Hun, Choe (11 April 2012)."As Rocket Launching Nears, North Korea Continues Shift to New 'Supreme Leader'".The New York Times.Retrieved18 September2023.
Per note at end of NYT article: 'An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated the day on which North Korea had elevated Kim Jong-un to chairman of the Workers' Party's central military commission and granted him membership in the Politburo and its presidium. It was on Wednesday (11 April), not Thursday (12 April).'
- ^abSang-Hun, Choe (29 June 2016)."Kim Jong-un Takes an Additional Title in North Korea".The New York Times.Retrieved18 September2023.
The Assembly revised North Korea's Constitution to create what the state media called a Commission on State Affairs, with Mr. Kim as its chairman. It replaces the National Defense Commission.
- ^Madden, Michael (20 May 2016)."Deciphering the 7th Party Congress: A Teaser for Greater Change?".38 North.Archived fromthe originalon 12 February 2021.Retrieved12 February2021.
The major organizational change announced at the 7th Party Congress was the reinstatement of the WPK chairmanship, to which Kim Jong Un was elected
- ^Frank, Rüdiger(19 January 2021)."Key Results of The Eighth Party Congress in North Korea (Part 2 of 2)".38 North.Archived fromthe originalon 12 February 2021.Retrieved12 February2021.
Titles throughout all party levels were changed from "chairman" to three levels of "secretary".
- ^Frank, Rüdiger(19 January 2021)."Key Results of The Eighth Party Congress in North Korea (Part 2 of 2)".38 North.Archived fromthe originalon 12 February 2021.Retrieved12 February2021.
Kim Jong Un was elected as general secretary of the party. This is remarkable, considering that on April 11, 2012, Kim Jong Il had been named the "eternal general secretary".