When Kim Jong-il, the former leader of the Korea DPR, was mentioned in North Korean media and publications, he was not simply addressed by name. At least one special title is used and his name was emphasized by a special bold font, for example: "The great leader Comrade Kim Jong-il provides on-the-spot guidance to the Ragwon Machine Complex."[1] The titles themselves were developed by the WPK Central Committee. The same applied to Kim Jong-il’s father, Kim Il-sung, who ruled North Korea from 1948 to 1994. Scholars have collected the following list of Kim Jong-il’s titles.[2][3]
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The first of Kim Jong-il’s titles. Has been in use since 1973 after Kim was secretly appointed as his father’s successor and until it was officially announced in order to mention Kim Jong-il in press without calling him by name[3]. |
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The title has been in use since the middle of 1970s[3]. |
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This title was the most common one during Kim Il-sung’s rule.[3]. |
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The title has been in use since the middle of the 1970s[3]. |
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The title has been in use since June 1975[3]. |
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In use since the mid-1980s on special occasions.[3]. |
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First mentioned in the middle of the 1980s before Kim was officially appointed as Korean People's Army Commander-in-Chief.[3]. |
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The most common of current Kim Jong-il's titles.[3]. |
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In use since February 1986[3]. |
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In use since the middle of 1980s[3]. |
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In use since December 21, 1991, when Kim Jong-il became Commander-in-Chief of Korean People's Army[3]. |
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Became common after Kim Il-sung's death[3]. |
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One of the most common titles. In use since 1994[3]. |
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In use since 1994[3]. |
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When Kim Il-sung was alive, this title was used only to refer to him[3]. |
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In use since 1997 after the 3-year mourning for Kim Il-sung ended.[3]. |
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In use since 1999 after the new DPRK constitution was accepted in 1998[3]. |
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In use since 2000[3]. |
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