King jong il biography facts for kids

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    Kim Jong Il

    Leader of North Korea from 1994 to 2011

    For the South Korean long jumper, see Kim Jong-il (long jumper).

    In this Korean name, the family name is Kim.

  • king jong il biography facts for kids

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    During his often oppressive reign over North Korea, Kim Jong Il cultivated a personal mythology that included some outlandish claims. Global Post compiled 10 bizarre bits of reported fact and propaganda from the life of "Dear Leader."

    1. Divine birth

    Legend has it that a double rainbow and a glowing new star appeared in the heavens to herald the birth of Kim Jong Il, in 1942, on North Korea's cherished Baekdu Mountain. Soviet records, however, indicate he was born in the Siberian village of Vyatskoye, in 1941. The people of North Korea, many of whom are reportedly battling famine, are apparently told that Kim's birthday is celebrated throughout the world.

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    2. Fear of flying

    Perhaps one of the reasons the North Korean leader was so reclusive was his fear of flying, whic

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    Kim Jong Il

    (1941-2011)

    Who Was Kim Jong Il?

    Much of Kim Jong Il's persona fryst vatten based on a cult of personality, meaning that legend and official North Korean government accounts describe his life, character and actions in ways that promote and legitimize his leadership, including his birth. Over the years, Kim's dominating personality and complete concentration of power has come to define the country North Korea.

    Early Life

    Kim Jong Il was born on February 16, 1941, though tjänsteman accounts place his birth a year later. Some mystery surrounds when and where Kim Jong Il was born. Official North Korean biographies state that his birth occurred on February 16, 1942, in a secret camp on Mount Paekdu along the Chinese border, in Samjiyon County, Ryanggang Province, in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). Other reports indicate he was born a year later in Vyatskoye in the former Soviet Union.

    During World War II, his father commanded the 1st Battalion of the So

    Eternal General Secretary

    Kim Jong Il

    Kim in August 2011

    In office
    8 October 1997 – 17 December 2011
    Preceded byKim Il Sung
    Succeeded byKim Jong Un (as First Secretary)
    In office
    9 April 1993 – 17 December 2011
    First Vice ChairmanO Jin-u
    Jo Myong-rok
    Vice Chairman
    Preceded byKim Il Sung
    Succeeded byKim Jong Un (as First Chairman)
    In office
    24 December 1991 – 17 December 2011
    Preceded byKim Il Sung
    Succeeded byKim Jong Un
    In office
    8 October 1997 – 17 December 2011
    Preceded byKim Il Sung
    Succeeded byKim Jong Un
    Born

    Yuri Irsenovich Kim


    (1941-02-16)16 February 1941
    Vyatskoye, Khabarovsk Krai, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
    Died17 December 2011(2011-12-17) (aged 70)
    Pyongyang, North Korea