Kim Jong Il

Kim Jong Il – Life, Rule, and Quotes

A detailed and balanced look at the life of Kim Jong Il (1941–2011), the second supreme leader of North Korea, his rise to power, governing philosophy, domestic and foreign policies, cult of personality, and memorable quotations.

Introduction

Kim Jong Il (born February 16, 1941 – died December 17, 2011) was the supreme leader of North Korea from 1994 until his death. He inherited the reins from his father, Kim Il Sung, and presided over a regime defined by strong militarism, ideological orthodoxy, repression, and an elaborate cult of personality. Under his leadership, North Korea intensified its emphasis on the “Songun” (military-first) policy, continued the isolation of the regime, and developed its nuclear and missile programs, all the while confronting severe economic difficulties and humanitarian crisis.

In this article, we explore Kim’s life, the historical context of his rule, his governance style, his influence, and some of his more well-known quotes—while also acknowledging controversies and the contested nature of many claims about him.

Early Life and Family

Birth and Origins

Kim Jong Il’s early life is shrouded in myth, propaganda, and contradictory records. Official North Korean accounts claim he was born on February 16, 1942, on Mount Paektu, under miraculous circumstances (double rainbow, etc.). However, historians outside North Korea have generally placed his birth in 1941, in the Soviet Union (in a camp in Vyatskoye or Voroshilov, in what is now Russia). His birth name was reportedly Yuri Kim (or sometimes transliterated variants).

His father was Kim Il Sung, the founding leader of North Korea, and his mother was Kim Jong Suk (Kim Il Sung’s first wife). He also had a younger brother named Kim Man-il, who died young.

Education and Grooming for Leadership

Kim Jong Il’s education is part real, part constructed. Some accounts suggest he spent time in China (Manchuria) during the Korean War period for safety. He was later enrolled in Kim Il Sung University, where he is claimed to have studied ideology, literature, and political science. His ascent within the Workers’ Party began in the 1960s, and his father gradually prepared him as heir, especially after internal party purges (such as the Kapsan faction purge in the late 1960s) which consolidated Kim Il Sung’s absolute control. In 1974, Kim was publicly acknowledged as the successor to Kim Il Sung, cementing the hereditary succession model.

Rise to Power

Kim gradually assumed greater responsibilities in the party and military. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, he was already wielding de facto power. He was named Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) in December 1991. When Kim Il Sung died in 1994, Kim Jong Il took over the leadership. He formally assumed many of the top titles only later—for example, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea did not occur until 1997.

Under his rule, North Korea adopted new constitutional changes: in 1998, the presidency was rewritten such that Kim Il Sung became the “Eternal President,” and subsequent leaders held different formal titles (e.g. Chairman of the National Defence Commission) as the supreme office.

Rule, Policies & Challenges

“Songun” (Military-First) Policy

One hallmark of Kim’s governance was the prioritization of the military in state affairs—Songun. The military was elevated above civilian sectors in resource allocation, political influence, and prestige. This orientation served two purposes: consolidating control (the military as a base of power) and projecting external deterrence.

Economic Crisis and Famine

Kim assumed leadership during a period of great hardship. The collapse of the Soviet Union (a major trading and aid partner) severely disrupted supplies to North Korea. In the mid-1990s, North Korea experienced a devastating famine (sometimes called the “Arduous March”) during which estimates of death tolls vary widely, from hundreds of thousands to possibly millions. While official sources downplay the severity, external scholars often describe systemic mismanagement, poor agricultural planning, infrastructure decline, and natural disasters as contributing factors.

Kim’s regime also experimented modestly with market-oriented reforms (state-sanctioned markets, special economic zones) though always under tight control.

Nuclear & Missile Development

Under Kim’s rule, North Korea made significant advances in nuclear weapons and missile technology. He oversaw multiple tests and withdrew from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) at times. These programs were used as leverage in diplomatic negotiations (e.g. Six-Party Talks) and as a deterrent against external pressure, particularly from the United States, South Korea, and Japan.

Diplomacy and Relations with Allies

Kim maintained a delicate relationship with China and, at times, Russia. He relied on China for economic aid, diplomatic cover, and as a lifeline in tensions. Despite harsh rhetoric, he engaged in talks with South Korea, including participating in inter-Korean summits, reverse diplomacy, and agreements (e.g. the Kaesong Industrial Complex) that allowed some limited cooperation.

Cult of Personality & Ideological Control

Kim perpetuated and expanded the cult of personality initiated by his father. He was referred to by titles such as “Dear Leader.” State propaganda attributed miraculous qualities to him (e.g. composing works as a child, leading the nation with supernatural insight). His published works (essays, speeches) were numerous. North Korean sources claim he authored hundreds of works. Every aspect of life in North Korea—education, media, arts—was tightly controlled to reinforce the regime’s narrative and suppress dissent.

Personality, Culture & Symbolism

Kim was reported to have a fear of flying; thus, he predominantly traveled by armored train even for diplomatic missions. He had a well-known personal affinity for films and cinema. He is said to have owned a vast private collection (thousands of video recordings) and enjoyed genres such as action, horror, and classic Western films. His personal tastes—luxury goods, extravagances, imported items—often stood in stark contrast to the widespread deprivation of his country’s citizens. (This contrast is widely noted in external accounts.) Symbolism played a potent role in his leadership: portraits, slogans, mass events, and rituals cultivated reverence and control.

Death and Succession

Kim Jong Il died on December 17, 2011, reportedly from a heart attack while on a train journey near Pyongyang. His funeral was held on December 28, 2011, and a national mourning period followed. He was succeeded by his third son, Kim Jong Un, who inherited the leadership roles. In the constitution and state ideology, Kim Jong Il was posthumously enshrined with eternal titles (e.g. “Eternal General Secretary,” “Eternal Chairman”) to reinforce continuity and legitimacy.

Legacy & Impact

Kim Jong Il’s legacy is deeply contested, shaped by propaganda narratives, secrecy, and external critiques. Below are some of the key dimensions:

Consolidation of the Dynastic Model

Kim reinforced the hereditary succession model in a Communist state—a rare case of dynastic rule in a nominally socialist regime.

Militarization and Nuclear Posture

His emphasis on military strength and nuclear capability defined North Korea as a security threat and a persistent focus of international diplomacy and sanctions.

Humanitarian Cost

Large segments of the North Korean population suffered chronic food shortages, systemic poverty, human rights abuses, and limited freedoms under his regime. External observers often describe his rule as repressive and authoritarian.

Diplomatic Isolation & Sanctions

Kim’s provocative foreign policy led to increased isolation, economic sanctions, and recurring crises with countries like the U.S., South Korea, and Japan.

Propaganda and Control Techniques

He expanded the mechanisms of ideological control, surveillance, and propaganda, making North Korea one of the most tightly controlled societies in the world.

Continuity in the Kim Regime

His successor, Kim Jong Un, inherited an entrenched system—with institutions, symbols, ideology, and power structures deeply shaped by Kim Jong Il’s era.

Selected Quotes

Below are some quotations attributed to Kim Jong Il. Because of the nature of his regime, attribution and translation may vary:

• “Nothing is impossible for a man with a strong will.”

• “The revolution is carried out by means of one’s thought, not through one’s family background.”

• “There is no word ‘impossible’ in the Korean language.”

• “The liquidation of colonialism is a trend of the times which no force can hold back.”

• “Overall relations between the North and the South have developed in favor of national reconciliation, unity and reunification.”

• “No faction is better or worse than any other. All come from the same mould; they are all products of capitalist influence in the working class movement.”

These quotations reflect ideological positions about will, revolution, national unity, and anti-colonialism—common themes consistent with North Korean state doctrine.

Lessons and Reflections

While Kim Jong Il is a controversial and polarizing figure, his life offers several points for reflection:

1. Power through control over institutions
   His regime demonstrates how control of military, propaganda, party, and surveillance apparatus can consolidate authoritarian rule.

2. Myth, narrative & legitimacy
   The extensive cult of personality illustrates how regimes create myths and narratives to legitimize authority and suppress dissent.

3. Limits of isolationist policies
   North Korea under his rule struggled economically, showing that extreme isolation, rigid ideology, and militarization carry serious human and material costs.

4. Symbolism and succession
   The dynastic succession model and perpetual titles (e.g. “Eternal Leader”) show how symbolism is used to reinforce regime continuity beyond individual lifespans.

5. Dual face of projection vs fragility
   On one hand, Kim projected strength and deterrence; on the other, his regime faced structural fragility—economic weakness, famine, dependency on external support, internal repression.

6. Ethical and human cost of authoritarianism
   The severe limitations on human rights under his rule remain a stark reminder of the suffering that can accompany unchecked power and suppression of dissent.

Conclusion

Kim Jong Il was a deeply consequential, if controversial, figure in modern history. He ruled North Korea for nearly two decades, consolidating a model of totalitarian control, militarism, ideological dominance, and hereditary succession.

While state narratives cast him as a visionary leader of Juche and strength, external analyses tend to emphasize the regime’s humanitarian deficits, economic stagnation, and repression.

Understanding Kim Jong Il requires navigating the tension between myth and documented history, between the internal narrative of North Korea and the external critiques. His life and rule remain a critical case study in 20th- and 21st-century politics: how ideology, control, narrative, and power intersect—and what happens when the state becomes deified above the people it claims to lead.