Succession Designation1974
Is designated successor within the ruling party.
Historical person
Kim Jong Il Biography
Historical biography and chronological timeline for Kim Jong Il, based on 13 World History Database records associated with North Korea.
13 records1974–201113 events6 places
Chronological biography
1974
1980
Sixth Party Congress10 October 1980
Gains senior party posts at the Sixth Party Congress.
1994
Succession to Kim Il Sung8 July 1994
Becomes North Koreas de facto leader after Kim Il Sung dies.
1997
General Secretary8 October 1997
Becomes general secretary of the Workers Party.
1998
Taepodong Launch31 August 1998
North Korea launches a Taepodong rocket over Japan.
NDC Chairman Reconfirmed5 September 1998
Is reconfirmed as National Defence Commission chairman.
2003
National Defence Commission Re-election3 September 2003
Is re-elected chairman of the National Defence Commission.
2006
First Nuclear Test9 October 2006
North Korea conducts its first nuclear test.
2009
NDC Re-election9 April 2009
Is re-elected as National Defence Commission chairman.
Second Nuclear Test25 May 2009
North Korea conducts its second nuclear test.
2010
Cheonan Sinking26 March 2010
South Korea blames North Korea for sinking Cheonan.
Yeonpyeong Shelling23 November 2010
North Korea shells Yeonpyeong Island.
2011
Death of Kim Jong Il17 December 2011
Death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
Titles and roles
Chairman · Chairman of National Defence Commission · Chairman · Chairman of the National Defence Commission · General Secretary · General Secretary of Workers Party · Party Secretary · Workers Party Secretary · Successor · Designated Successor · Supreme Leader · Leader of North Korea
Record provenance
This biography is assembled from World History Database records filtered by country and personal-name fields. Exact duplicate display records are removed. The database is an index rather than a complete narrative biography; formal research should verify entries against relevant primary or specialist sources.