Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03

Kim Jong Il Biography and Timeline

Follow Kim Jong Il through 13 dated historical records for North Korea.

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Kim Jong Il, historical timeline

A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.

13Distinct records

1 of 1Page

1974–2011Years on this page

1974

Succession Designation

Successor · Designated Successor · Pyongyang · Government / Workers Party of Korea

Is designated successor within the ruling party.

Role range: 1974-1994 – 1974-1994

1980

10 October 1980

Sixth Party Congress

Party Secretary · Workers Party Secretary · Pyongyang · Government / Workers Party of Korea

Gains senior party posts at the Sixth Party Congress.

Role range: 1980-1980 – 1980-1994

1994

8 July 1994

Succession to Kim Il Sung

Supreme Leader · Leader of North Korea · Pyongyang · Government / Government of North Korea

Becomes North Koreas de facto leader after Kim Il Sung dies.

Role range: 1948- – 1994-2011

1997

8 October 1997

General Secretary

General Secretary · General Secretary of Workers Party · Pyongyang · Government / Workers Party of Korea

Becomes general secretary of the Workers Party.

Role range: 1997-2011 – 1997-2011

1998

31 August 1998

Taepodong Launch

Supreme Leader · Leader of North Korea · Musudan-ri · Warfare / Missile Program

North Korea launches a Taepodong rocket over Japan.

Role range: 1998-1998 – 1994-2011

5 September 1998

NDC Chairman Reconfirmed

Chairman · Chairman of National Defence Commission · Pyongyang · Government / Government of North Korea

Is reconfirmed as National Defence Commission chairman.

Role range: 1948- – 1993-2011

2003

3 September 2003

National Defence Commission Re-election

Chairman · Chairman of the National Defence Commission · Pyongyang · Government / Government of North Korea

Is re-elected chairman of the National Defence Commission.

Role range: 1948- – 1993-2011

2006

9 October 2006

First Nuclear Test

Supreme Leader · Leader of North Korea · Punggye-ri · Warfare / Nuclear Weapons Program

North Korea conducts its first nuclear test.

Role range: 2006-2006 – 1994-2011

2009

9 April 2009

NDC Re-election

Chairman · Chairman of National Defence Commission · Pyongyang · Government / Government of North Korea

Is re-elected as National Defence Commission chairman.

Role range: 1948- – 1993-2011

25 May 2009

Second Nuclear Test

Supreme Leader · Leader of North Korea · Punggye-ri · Warfare / Nuclear Weapons Program

North Korea conducts its second nuclear test.

Role range: 2009-2009 – 1994-2011

2010

26 March 2010

Cheonan Sinking

Supreme Leader · Leader of North Korea · Yellow Sea · Warfare / Inter-Korean Conflict

South Korea blames North Korea for sinking Cheonan.

Role range: 2010-2010 – 1994-2011

23 November 2010

Yeonpyeong Shelling

Supreme Leader · Leader of North Korea · Yeonpyeong Island · Warfare / Inter-Korean Conflict

North Korea shells Yeonpyeong Island.

Role range: 2010-2010 – 1994-2011

2011

17 December 2011

Death of Kim Jong Il

Supreme Leader · Leader of North Korea · North Korea · Government / Government of North Korea

Death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.

Role range: 1948- – 1994-2011

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.