Kim Pyong-il
Encyclopedia
Kim Pyong-il (born 10 August 1954) is the half-brother of the current leader of North Korea
, Kim Jong-il
, and the son of former leader Kim Il-sung
.
, Kim Il-sung's former secretary. Kim had one younger brother, Yong-il (not to be confused with Kim Yong-il
, Premier of the DPRK Cabinet from April 2007 to June 2010), and one younger half-sister, Kyung-hee (who would go on to marry senior official Chang Sung-taek
). He was named after another son with the same name, who was born in Vyatskoye in 1944; that son, also known as Shura Kim, allegedly drowned in Pyongyang
in 1947. He graduated from Kim Il-sung University with a major in economics, and later attended the Kim Il-sung National War College, following which he was appointed a battalion commander.
so that he could not influence politics in his home country. His first overseas assignment was in the Socialist Federal Republic Yugoslavia. He was promoted to the position of ambassador to People's Republic of Hungary
in 1988, but was transferred to People's Republic of Bulgaria in response to Hungary's opening of diplomatic relations with South Korea
in 1989. This was followed by a posting in Finland
. In 1998, after North Korea closed its embassy in Finland to save money and prevent defections, he was posted to Poland
. His ambassadorship was initially suggested to be in limbo, as nine months after his posting, he had yet to formally present his credentials to the Polish president. However, he remained as ambassador in Poland, and his daughter Kim Eun-song and son Kim In-kang went on to attend university there.
In July 2011, Kim was reported by South Korean media to be back in Pyongyang for a visit. Some sources claimed he was under house arrest there since May, though others speculate he is just visiting his dying mother Kim Song-ae
or preparing to observe the anniversary of his father's death.
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
, Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il
Kim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
, and the son of former leader Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung
Kim Il-sung was a Korean communist politician who led the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from its founding in 1948 until his death in 1994. He held the posts of Prime Minister from 1948 to 1972 and President from 1972 to his death...
.
Family background and early life
Kim was born to Kim Il-sung and Kim Song-aeKim Song-ae
Kim Sŏng-ae was the second wife of the late North Korean leader, president Kim Il-sung. They became husband and wife in 1952, following the death of Kim Il-sung's first wife in 1949, although due to the Korean War no formal ceremony was held. One source indicates Kim Il Sung had had an affair with...
, Kim Il-sung's former secretary. Kim had one younger brother, Yong-il (not to be confused with Kim Yong-il
Kim Yong-il
Kim Yong-il was the Premier of North Korea from April, 2007 to June 7, 2010. He was elected as Premier by the 5th session of the 11th Supreme People's Assembly in April 2007, replacing Pak Pong-ju...
, Premier of the DPRK Cabinet from April 2007 to June 2010), and one younger half-sister, Kyung-hee (who would go on to marry senior official Chang Sung-taek
Chang Sung-taek
Chang Sung-taek, is a North Korean politician and the brother-in-law of Kim Jong-il. He is a leading figure in the North Korean government, and South Korean government officials and academic North Korea watchers suggested that he may have taken on de facto leadership over North Korea due to Kim...
). He was named after another son with the same name, who was born in Vyatskoye in 1944; that son, also known as Shura Kim, allegedly drowned in Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
in 1947. He graduated from Kim Il-sung University with a major in economics, and later attended the Kim Il-sung National War College, following which he was appointed a battalion commander.
Diplomatic career
In 1979, Kim began a series of diplomatic postings to several countries in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
so that he could not influence politics in his home country. His first overseas assignment was in the Socialist Federal Republic Yugoslavia. He was promoted to the position of ambassador to People's Republic of Hungary
People's Republic of Hungary
The People's Republic of Hungary or Hungarian People's Republic was the official state name of Hungary from 1949 to 1989 during its Communist period under the guidance of the Soviet Union. The state remained in existence until 1989 when opposition forces consolidated in forcing the regime to...
in 1988, but was transferred to People's Republic of Bulgaria in response to Hungary's opening of diplomatic relations with South Korea
Hungary-South Korea relations
Hungary–South Korea relations date back to the exchange of permanent missions between the two countries, announced during the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. The announcement made Hungary the first Eastern Bloc country to exchange ambassadors with South Korea...
in 1989. This was followed by a posting in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. In 1998, after North Korea closed its embassy in Finland to save money and prevent defections, he was posted to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. His ambassadorship was initially suggested to be in limbo, as nine months after his posting, he had yet to formally present his credentials to the Polish president. However, he remained as ambassador in Poland, and his daughter Kim Eun-song and son Kim In-kang went on to attend university there.
In July 2011, Kim was reported by South Korean media to be back in Pyongyang for a visit. Some sources claimed he was under house arrest there since May, though others speculate he is just visiting his dying mother Kim Song-ae
Kim Song-ae
Kim Sŏng-ae was the second wife of the late North Korean leader, president Kim Il-sung. They became husband and wife in 1952, following the death of Kim Il-sung's first wife in 1949, although due to the Korean War no formal ceremony was held. One source indicates Kim Il Sung had had an affair with...
or preparing to observe the anniversary of his father's death.
See also
- List of Koreans
- Politics of North KoreaPolitics of North KoreaThe politics of North Korea take place within a nominally democratic multi-party system within the framework of the official state philosophy, Juche, a concept created by the founder of the North Korean state, Kim Il-sung, and his son and successor as leader, Kim Jong-il. In practice, North Korea...
External links
- Korean Monarch Kim Jong Il: Technocrat Ruler of the Hermit Kingdom Facing the Challenge of Modernity, by Alexandre Y. Mansourov, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
- The Kim Jong Il Succession Problem in the Context of the North Korean Political Structure, translated by Titus North, University of Pittsburgh