Part 4/17:
Kim Il-sung’s son, Kim Jong-il, inherited power upon his father’s death in 1994, maintaining a dynastic rule unprecedented in the communist world. Kim Il-sung’s vision of a quasi-religious cult persisted, with propaganda depicting him and his bloodline as divine ancestors from Mount Paektu.
Kim Jong-il’s reign was marked by an obsession with military strength and nuclear development to secure his legacy and power. His rule was characterized by purges, executions, and a focus on nuclear and missile programs deemed vital for regime survival. His death in 2011 gave way to Kim Jong-un, a relatively young and untested leader, who inherited a government already deep in nuclear pursuits and organized crime networks.