Return to Korea
Returns to Korea after Japanese surrender.
Role range: 1945-1948 – 1945-1994
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Kim Il Sung Biography and Timeline
Follow Kim Il Sung through 15 dated historical records for North Korea.
Kim Il Sung, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
15Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1945–1994Years on this page
1945
1946
Provisional People's Committee
Becomes chairman of the provisional northern government.
Role range: 1946-1948 – 1946-1948
Land Reform Law
Promotes radical land reform in northern Korea.
Role range: 1946-1946 – 1946-1948
North Korean Workers Party
Helps form the North Korean Workers Party.
Role range: 1946-1949 – 1946-1949
1948
Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea
Proclaims the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.
Role range: 1948- – 1948-1972
1949
Workers Party Merger
Leads the merged Workers Party of Korea.
Role range: 1949- – 1949-1966
1950
Korean War Begins
North Korean forces invade South Korea.
Role range: 1950-1953 – 1948-1972
UN Command Counteroffensive
UN forces land at Incheon and reverse North Korean gains.
Role range: 1950-1953 – 1948-1972
1956
August Faction Incident
Survives a party challenge and consolidates power.
Role range: 1948- – 1948-1972
1966
General Secretary
Becomes general secretary of the Workers Party.
Role range: 1966-1994 – 1966-1994
1968
Blue House Raid
North Korean commandos attempt to attack South Koreas president.
Role range: 1966-1969 – 1948-1994
USS Pueblo Capture
North Korea seizes the U.S. intelligence ship Pueblo.
Role range: 1968-1968 – 1948-1994
1972
July Fourth Joint Statement
Approves a joint statement on Korean reunification principles.
Role range: 1972-1972 – 1972-1994
President of North Korea
Becomes president under a new constitution.
Role range: 1948- – 1972-1994
1994
Death of Kim Il Sung
Death of North Korean founder Kim Il Sung.
Role range: 1948- – 1948-1994
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.