Who is Kim Jong-un’s grandfather Kim Il-sung? First dictator of the Kim dynasty
IN 1948, North Korea was founded by Kim Il-sung, which he ruled until his death in 1994.
After his death, his son, Kim Jong-il became leader of the communist state, which is currently ruled by his grandson, Kim Jong-un, making the Kim dynasty one of the longest and strongest of the modern world.
Who is Kim Jong-un's grandfather Kim Il-sung?
Kim Il-sung was born to Korean independence activist Kim Hyong-jik and communist politician Kang Pan-sok in April 1912.
According to Kim, he was raised in a Presbyterian family and had two younger brothers.
He noted that his family were not poor but wasn't too far away from poverty either.
During his early years, he became a guerrilla fighter, in the battle to rid Korea of the Japanese in the 1930s.
How did he become the founder of North Korea?
After the Second World War, it was agreed that Korea would remain a free and independent nation.
This was not the case, however, as there was an equal amount of US and Russian influence.
Eventually, the US gained control of the South, while Russia maintained their influence in the North.
The nation was divided by the 38th parallel.
US calls for elections across Korea to determine a leader was rejected by the Soviets, who installed Kim as the North Korean leader as a result of his communist ideals.
Kim quickly established the Korean People's Army and set up the Federation of Literature and Art, through which he was able to determine information output within the country.
North Korea officially became the Democratic People's Republic of Korea as Kim sought to establish himself as a godlike figure among North Koreans through the usage of art and media.
With the intention of reuniting the North and South, Kim invaded the South with the support of China and the Soviet Union in 1950.
The war ceased with the Korean Armistice Agreement which was signed in 1953 until a peaceful agreement was reached by the North and South.
Kim maintained his power by eliminating any internal rivals within his country and party, becoming North Korea's absolute ruler.
He was determined to establish North Korea as a strong nation without help from foreign countries.
Kim continuously showed hostility to the US and South Korea while maintaining his alliance with China and the Soviet Union.
Continuously obsessed with who would succeed him as leader, Kim established a hereditary dynasty, raising his son Kim Jong-Il to high positions and making sure he became his successor.
Who were his wife and children?
It has been reported that Kim married his first wife, Kim Jon-suk in the Soviet Union in 1941.
She gave birth to the couple's first son and future North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.
She also gave birth to another son before dying while giving birth to a stillborn girl.
The couple's other son died after a swimming accident in 1947.
Kim remarried and had three children with his second wife, Kim Song-ae.
Some of the children he had with his second wife went on to become prominent in North Korean politics, including Kim Pyong-il.
It has also been reported that Kim had other children with other women he did not marry.
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How did he die?
On July 8, 1994, Kim suffered a sudden heart attack at his residence.
Despite his son Kim Jong-il flying in some of the best doctors from Pyongyang, Kim died later on in the day at the age of 82.
North Korea mourned his death officially for ten days, as declared by his son.
His funeral was a spectacle attended by hundreds of thousands of North Koreans on July 14, 1994.
Kim's body was preserved and put on display under a glass coffin for viewing purposes.
His body lies at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun.
His son, Kim Jong-il became the leader of North Korea after his death.
Under the hereditary dynasty established, Kim Jong-il's son Kim Jong-un became the country's leader after his death.
Kim Il-sung was declared the "Eternal President" on his death.