Supreme Leader (North Korean title)

The supreme leader () is the de facto hereditary leader of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Korean People's Army. The title is honorary, given only after death in the first two cases. More broadly it can also refer to the "Supreme Leader system" ( ), which is defined as "a system that aims to ensure continuous leadership by the Supreme Leader across generations". Different titles were used in North Korean propaganda that could be translated from Korean as "Great Leader", "Dear Leader" or "Supreme Leader". Similar to other one-party states, the post of General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (titled as chairman from 1948 to 1966, as First Secretary from 2012 to 2016, and Chairman again from 2016 to 2021) is the highest-priority political position of the Leader.

Overview "Supreme Leader" was originally a designation used for Kim Il Sung only, and only after his death. During his lifetime he was known as "Great Leader" ( ), a title that to this day is most often used to refer to him. His son, Kim Jong Il, was known as "Dear Leader" ( ) during his lifetime, and only after death did North Korean media begin calling him "Supreme Leader", in the tradition of his father.

The grandson, Kim Jong Un, was first called "Supreme Leader" in a North Korean newspaper article dated October 3, 2020, with the frequency increasing since then, including sometimes "great Supreme Leader". He was the first to be frequently called "Supreme Leader" while still alive, and at the relatively young age of 37. The 2020 newspaper article was part of the official preparations to appoint Kim Jong Un as the General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea i.e. leader of the Workers' Party, the sole political body in the country and the top leader position.

Following the 8th WPK Congress in January 2021, North Korea stopped calling Kim Jong Un “supreme leader”. The congress changed the WPK general secretary's title from "the supreme leader of the Party" to "the head of the WPK". Starting from September 2024, North Korean state media has referred to Kim Jong Un as the "head of state".

Since November 2021, all South Korean media outlets have reported that Kim Jong Un is called "Supreme Leader" ( ) in North Korea, although also means simply "Leader" (as a short way of saying "Dear/Great Leader", whereas "Supreme Leader" would be ). The South China Morning Post reported on 23 March 2026 that the President of the State Affairs is the Supreme Leader according to the Constitution.

List Portrait Name Title(s) Period Tenure(Time in office) Ideological contribution(s) 1 Kim Il Sung김일성 Premier of the Cabinet of the DPRK 9 September 1948 – 28 December 1972Based on the creation of the Constitution of North Korea, which established the Presidency of North Korea and abolished the Premier of North Korea position. 9 September 1948—8 July 1994Based on date of death of Kim Il-Sung() Juche Chairman of the WPK 24 June 1949 – 12 October 1966 General Secretary of the WPK 12 October 1966 – 8 July 1994 President of the DPRK 28 December 1972Based on the outcome of the 1972 North Korean parliamentary election – 8 July 1994 2 Kim Jong Il김정일 Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK 9 April 1993 – 17 December 2011 8 July 1994—17 December 2011() KimilsungismSongunTen Principles General Secretary of the WPK 8 October 1997 – 17 December 2011Based on date of death of Kim Jong-Il 3 Kim Jong Un김정은 First Secretary of the WPK 11 April 2012 – 9 May 2016 17 December 2011—present() Kimilsungism–KimjongilismByungjin First Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK 11 April 2012 – 29 June 2016 Chairman of the WPK 9 May 2016 – 10 January 2021 President of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK 29 June 2016 – present General Secretary of the WPK 10 January 2021 – present

Bold offices refer to the highest positions in the Workers' Party of Korea, the only permitted political party in North Korea.

Timeline

Supreme Leader (North Korean title)

Bron en licentie