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Birth
Kim Jong Il was born on February 16, 1942 (according to official North Korean bibliographies). Although there is a lot of speculation to where and when Kim was born; here are some of the suspected places of his birth, in a secret camp on Mount Paekdu, in a Ryanggang Province, in Samjiyon County, or in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. -
Korean independance (month & day unknown)
Korea declares independance from Japan. World War II is finally over. This altered Kim's life, if Korea's independance had never happened he might have never as much power. -
Brother dies (month & day unknown)
Shura Kim drowns in pool at a mansion in Pyongyang belonging to a retired Japanese officer. Though there are numerous reports of Kim Jong Il, now 5 years old, drowning Shura. -
Mother dies (month & day unknown)
In 1949, Kim Jong Il's mother dies from child birth. This could have psycologicly influenced Kim a lot. Not having a motherly figure in his life, left Kim with his father to raise him. -
Started schooling (unknown day)
According to his bibliography, Kim Jong Il started primary school in Pyongyang. Although some reports say, during this particular time the Korean war was going on as well so he was brought to the Peoples Republic of China to do his studies for the first few years. There's a lot of shady parts of Kim's early life. For example the misconseptions to where and when he was born, Shura's drowning and where he did his schooling. -
Becomes Vice Chairman of DYL (day unknown)
Various sources confirm that Kim was very involved with politics during his schooling. One of the reasons he joined the Democratic Youth League (DYL). In September of 1957, Kim was elected Vice Chairman of the DYL at his middle school he attended. -
Graduated from middle school (month & day unknown)
In 1960, Kim Jung Il graduated from Namsan Higher middle school. -
Enrolled in Kim Il Sung University (day unknown)
After finally graduating middle school, Kim enroled in Kim Il Sung University. -
Joined Workers' Party of Korea (day unknown)
In July of 1961, Kim joined the Worker's Party of Korea. Kim's father guided him as they toured farms, factories, and workplaces near Korea. -
Graduates from Kim Il Sung University (day unknown)
Kim Jong Il graduates from Kim Il Sung University in April 1964. Kim majored in Marxist political economy. He also minored in military science and philosophy. -
Named father's official successor (month & day unknown)
In 1974, Kim was named his father's official successor. To eliminate future issues, Kim's younger half brother was sent to European ambassadorships. Kim came to power by his father's guidence and inheriting his father's power as well. When Kim seemed to have any political problem in his way, it seemed to just silently be passed off. I guess, his brother was a potential politcal enemy if he stayed around North Korea. -
Appointed Military Commission and Party Secretariat (month & day unknown)
In 1980, Kim was given the positions as Military Commision and Party Secretariat. Kim dressed in grey or black plain buttoned coats and pants. His fashion expresses his power because it shows dullness of his charecter. -
Attained title "Dear Leader" (month & day unknown)
Kim aquired the title "Dear Leader." The goverment was creating personality cults behind Kim. Simular to his father, who was known as the "Great Leader." If anyone is to talk negitively about Our Dear Leader, they can be sentenced to concentration camps, torture, or even execution. I feel as though this is abuse of human rights, people should have freedom of speech. They should have a right to say what they believe. Kim's vision of his subjects was aproval of goverment's decisions and actions. -
Bombing on Rangoon, Burma (month & day uknown)
In 1983, Kim was accused of a bombing in Ragoon, Burma. Of which Kim has much evidence of him being directly involved with this act. Deaths of 17 South Korean officials and 4 cabnet members were caused from this act. -
Named Commander of North Korean Army (month & date unknown)
Kim was named Comander of the North Korean Army in 1991. "National defense is the sacred duty of the young and all other people." That sacred duty now lies in Kim's hands. -
Kim in charge of North Korean affaris (month & day unknown)
Kim, promoted by Kim Il Sung (his dad), was made in charge of all North Korean affairs. It seems as the years went by Kim's father gave him more and more power over North Korea. Since he had so much power, why didn't he help growing death rate (2 to 3 million people) caused by starvation. That is about 10% of Korea's population. Kim was aided by America with food, but used the food for the military. Kim plainly said, that his people could "eat bark." -
Signed "Agreed Framework" (month & dag unknown)
In 1994, the US signed a Agreed Framework with North Korea. In this agreement, North Korea had to stop their nuclear weapons program in trade for the US to give them aid to build power generating nuclear reactors. 8 years later, Kim's goverment claimed production of various nuclear weapons since the agreement of 1994. Kim has about 600 missles aimed at South Korean industrial areas. He also has 11,000 artillery peices which could potentially, when set off, kill the Seoul population. -
Father dies
On July 8, 1994, Kim Il Sung had a died from a heart attack. One of Kim's influences, his father, passed away and Kim will finally inherit all his fathers power. But Kim didn't recieve this power till about 3 years after his father's tragic death. His father was a big part of Kim gaining his notoriety. Without all the power that his father gave to him, Kim would not have been as widely known. He gained more notoriety by the deaths of many lives he took and his nuclear obsessions. -
Inherits father's power
Finally three long years after his father's death, Kim get all his father's power. Including the roles of chairman of the National Defense Commission and General Secretary of the Party. Kim with his new power, seems to be fearful of uprisings. Fifty tanks are located underground of the premisise of his home. They will be used if any unessicary outbreaks break out againts Kim. Although there hasn't been any recent uprisings againts Kim yet, no one knows what the future could hold. -
On the Art of the Cinema published
On October 1, 2001, Kim's book, On the Art of the Cinema, was published. Kim wrote several other books, but this was his most known book. The reviews for this book were two or three stars. Kim was not the kind of man who can write a good page turner. -
Suffers stroke (unknown day)
In September 2008, Kim suffered a stroke. -
Imprisoned American journalists
In March 2009, North Korean military imprisoned two journalists for US independant cable TV. These women's names were, Laura Ling and Euna Lee. They were imprisoned because when in the people's Republic of China, they crossed North Korean borders without a visa. They were charged with 12 years of labor in North Korea. This case was classified as "sham trial" by Reporters Without Boarders. -
Bill Clinton meets with Kim Jong Il
A few months after Euna and Laura were imprisoned, Bill Clinton and Kim met to discuss the release of the two journalists. Clinton succeded and they were released the next day.
