Kim Il-sung

About Kim Il-sung

The founding leader of North Korea who ruled from 1948 to 1994. Kim Il-sung established a totalitarian communist state with a cult of personality unprecedented in its intensity. He invaded South Korea in 1950 starting the Korean War. After the war, he built North Korea into a hermit kingdom isolated from the world. Kim created the Juche ideology of self reliance. He was called the Great Leader and was made Eternal President after his death. His son Kim Jong-il and grandson Kim Jong-un continued the dynasty, making North Korea the only communist country with a hereditary leadership.