Kim Il-sung was the founding leader of North Korea, serving as its Prime Minister from 1948 and later as President from 1972 until his death in 1994. He played a significant role in the Korean War and established a one-party state based on Juche, a political ideology emphasizing self-reliance.
Born on April 15, 1912, in Mangyongdae, he became involved in communist movements during his youth. After World War II, he emerged as a prominent leader in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula, ultimately leading to the establishment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.