| Kim Jong Il, born February 16, 1941 or 1942 is the Head of the state of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (or DPRK), General Secretary of the Worker’s Party of Korea, Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army (strength-wise, the fourth army in the world), Chairman of the National Defense Commission of North Korea, son of the “Great leader” Kim Il Sung. Unlike his father, he has the title “Intelligent Leader”, earlier, prior to his father’s death – “Dear Leader”. He was also called “Commander”.
Childhood:
Kim Jong-Il was born on February 16, 1941 (according to the official biography - February 16, 1942) in the family of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong-Suk. The official biography asserts that Kim Jong Il was born in a secret guerrilla camp in a timber hut on the highest and most esteemed mountain of North Korea- Baekdu Mountain (in the district of Samdzhiyon) and at the time of birth, a double rainbow and bright star appeared in the sky. According to Soviet and Chinese documents, he was born on February 16, 1941 in the USSR in the village of Vyatskoye, in the Khabarovsk Region and was called at the time of birth “Yury Irsenovich Kim”. He spent his childhood in Vyatskoye village, where the 88th detached infantry brigade RKKA was positioned and Kim’s father was commander of one of the battalions - at that time, the captain of the Red Army and subsequently, President of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
At the end of World War II, Kin Jong Jr was taken to Pyongyang in November 1945, to the place where his father had already returned. During the Korean War (1950-1953), he was once again taken out of the country, but this time to China. It is presumed that Kim received the majority of his education in China, even though the official biography claims that Kim received a school education in 1950-1960 at a school for children of the party workers in Pyongyang and then, in 1964, he graduated from the Kim Il Sung University in Pyongyang, majoring in political economy.
Cult of the Personality:
When Kim Jong Il was in North Korea, the policy of eulogy and worshiping his personality continues, which is characteristic even during the governing times of his father. According to the opinion of observers, the cult similar to the cult of Stalin in the USSR was established in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
* All the public institutions had portraits of Kim Jong and any criticism towards the leader was punished by imprisonment in a concentration camp;
* Since the 1980s, the biography of Kim Jong as well as the biography of his father became an official subject to study at school. All books or articles begin with citations from his works and the name of the leader in North Korean publications is done in a special bold font;
* North Korean TV telecasts show the love of the people towards the leader every day and the propaganda narrates about Kim Jong II's super abilities to manipulate time and space. Artists of the country dedicate their performances to him, verses are composed and salutes are thundered in the honor of him and the birthday of the leader is the second state holiday of North Korea.
People in the country consider Kim Jong Il a remarkable composer and six operas were written by him within a span of two years. His works include “Juche Ideas”, “Some questions, arising while studying Juche philosophy”, “Cinematography”, “Literature, based on Juche principle” and are considered classical works by Kim Jong Il. In the country, it is considered that Kim Jong Il is a great architect, who designed the “Juche Tower” in Pyongyang.
Personal life:
Kim Jong Il was married several times, presumably has three sons (according to other information, he is the father of 13 illegitimate children).
Way of life:
Waking up early in the morning, Kim Jong Il usually does memory exercises. He said in regards to this: “The memory becomes better if the head is switched-on more often. I wake up early in the mornings and do memory exercises”. On a question of how he spends his leisure time, Kim Jong II replied that he likes to go to people and spend time with them together. It is interesting to know how the people of our country are living and working, I care for them, have heart-to-heart conversation with them, I share sorrow and happiness with them- this is the most fruitful and pleasant thing for me. And more - I love reading and music. Books and music is “food” for our work, it is our life. |
There's been a lot of media buzz that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il had a stroke and is unable to rule the country. North Korea officially denies these rumours but Kim Jong Il did not make any public appearances for months. Days ago, North Korean TV showed a video of Kim Jong Il talking to a Korean soccer team after a game - Kim Jong is shown in good health and a cheerful mood. There are questions about the authenticity of this video - whether the video was taken long before Kim Jong's disappearance, or whether Kim Jong's body double was used in the video rather than the leader himself. In any case North Korea tries to use this video to show the world that Kim Jong Il is in good health and is even in a mood for sports.
