The Rise of Kim Jong Il

Father and Son
Kim's father Kim Il Sung, left, led North Korea from its founding in 1948 until his death. He was known during his lifetime as the Great Leader and was pronounced Eternal President upon his death. His son thus never held the title of President. Instead he held the titles of General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the National Defense Commission, a post that was decreed as the "highest post of state" in 1998. Father and son are pictured here in 1992 inspecting a soccer field in Pyongyang.

• Imagining North Korea After Kim