Supreme Leader (North Korean title)

Overview

"Supreme Leader" was originally a designation used for Kim Il Sung only, and only after his death. During his lifetime he was known as "Great Leader" (위대한 수령), a title that to this day is most often used to refer to him. His son, Kim Jong Il, was known as "Dear Leader" (친애하는 령도자) during his lifetime, and only after death did North Korean media begin calling him "Supreme Leader", in the tradition of his father. The grandson, Kim Jong Un, was first called "Supreme Leader" in a North Korean newspaper article dated October 3, 2020, with the frequency increasing since then, including sometimes "great Supreme Leader". He was the first to be frequently called "Supreme Leader" while still alive, and at the relatively young age of 37. The 2020 newspaper article was part of the official preparations to appoint Kim Jong Un as the General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea i.e. leader of the Workers' Party, the sole political body in the country and the top leader position. Since November 2021, South Korean media have all reported that Kim Jong Un is called "Supreme Leader" (Suryeong) in North Korea.

List

• Bold offices refer to the highest positions in the Workers' Party of Korea, the lone political party of North Korea.

Timeline

ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:15 PlotArea = top:10 bottom:50 right:100 left:20 AlignBars = late

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1948 till: TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1948 ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:5 start:1950

Define $now =

BarData = barset:PM

PlotData= width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till barset:PM

from: 09/09/1948 till: 08/07/1994 color:red text:"Kim Il Sung" fontsize:10 from: 08/07/1994 till: 17/12/2011 color:red text:"Kim Jong Il" fontsize:10 from: 17/12/2011 till: $now color:red text:"Kim Jong Un" fontsize:10

References

References

1. (17 April 2022). "Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Observes Test-fire of New-type Tactical Guided Weapon".
2. Isozaki, Atsuhito. (December 6, 2021). "Kim Jong Un and the 'Supreme Leader System'". [[The Diplomat (magazine).
3. Based on the creation of the [[Constitution of North Korea]], which established the Presidency of North Korea and abolished the Premier of North Korea position.
4. (August 2008). "Background Note: North Korea". [[United States Department of State]].
5. Based on date of death of Kim Il-Sung
6. [[Defense Language Institute]]. (July 1971). "Korean: Basic Course: Area Background". [[U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare]].
7. Yang, Sŏng-chʻŏl. (1999). "The North and South Korean Political Aystems: A Comparative Analysis". Hollym.
8. Based on the outcome of the [[1972 North Korean parliamentary election]]
9. (19 December 2011). "Timeline: Kim Jong-il". [[The Guardian]].
10. Based on date of death of Kim Jong-Il
11. Sang-Hun, Choe. (11 April 2012). "As Rocket Launching Nears, North Korea Continues Shift to New 'Supreme Leader'". [[The New York Times]].
12. (9 May 2016). "North Korea leader Kim becomes chairman of ruling Workers' Party: NHK". [[Reuters]].
13. (15 December 2020). "Kim Jong Il, leader of North Korea, dies". [[History (American TV network)]].
14. Sang-Hun, Choe. (11 April 2012). "As Rocket Launching Nears, North Korea Continues Shift to New 'Supreme Leader'". [[The New York Times]].
15. Madden, Michael. (20 May 2016). "Deciphering the 7th Party Congress: A Teaser for Greater Change?". [[38 North]].
16. [[Rüdiger Frank. (19 January 2021). "Key Results of The Eighth Party Congress in North Korea (Part 2 of 2)". [[38 North]].
17. Sang-Hun, Choe. (29 June 2016). "Kim Jong-un Takes an Additional Title in North Korea". [[The New York Times]].
18. [[Rüdiger Frank. (19 January 2021). "Key Results of The Eighth Party Congress in North Korea (Part 2 of 2)". [[38 North]].