Kim Il Sung

Kim Il Sung

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A Presentation on North Korea

By Laura Brennan

The Rise of Kim Il Sung

A cult-followed personality

How Kim Il Sung Came to Power

Korea: a for of the Berlin wall that still exists today

Techniques Used to Maintain Control

by Kim Il Sung and his party

• Personallity Cult
• Many citizens travel far to see statues of Kim Il Sung, and cry upon seeing him.
• Kim Il Sung is seen as an all knowing, fatherly figure who is looking out for all the people.
• Kim Il Sung is the eternal President of North Korea, even after death.
• Terror and Force
• Dissidents are exicuted or sent to labour camps.

• Direction of Popular Discontent
• Due to North Korea's policies of Autarky, any nation (i.e. the USA) seen as threatening their self sufficiency as a nation is feared and hated.
• Limits on Dissent
• Those who disagree with the government and socially shunned, punished, and sometimes executed.
• Propaganda
• Kim Il Sung is revered as a god and his leadership is viewed as eternal and unquestionable.

• After WWII, Japan lost Korea to the allied forces, leaving the North to the Soviet Union, and the South the the USA.
• Plans were laid for free elections in Korea, in each district.
• In 1948, Kim Il Sung convinced the Soviet Union to not allow UN authorities past the dividing line. By the end of the year, Kim Il Sung is installed as leader. The Soviet Troops withdrew.
• In 1950, North Korea invaved South Korea, who had a weak army and were no longer supported by the USA. North Korea was supported by China and the USSR.
• Both nations, fueled by the Cold War, declare jurisdiction over all of Korea.
• The war, which eventually involved the UN, the USA, China, and the USSR, hurt many civilians on both sides of the 38th parallel.
• June 27, 1953, both sides signed an armistice, ending major violence and establishing the Demilitarised zone along the border.
• The Democratic People's Republic of Korea nationalized all private property, and constructed many statues of Kim Il Sung to promote blind conformity. The state all restricted international travel and controlled the media.
• The entire population was sorted into social classes, based on their percieved respect and support for the regime. This was called the Songbun system. The Songbun system dictates what schools children can attend, where families can live, and what jobs adults can have.
• Free speech became punishable by death.

The most important thing in our war preparations is to teach all our people to hate U.S. imperialism. Otherwise, we will not be able to defeat the U.S. imperialists who boast of their technological superiority.

- Kim Il Sung

Conclusion

Response to Principles of Liberalism

Effect on Rights and Freedoms

As stated in textbook glossary

List of Rights Directly Violated (UN Declaration of Human Rights):

1. Right to be free from slavery (political prisoners sent to work camps)

2. Rule of Law (Kim Il Sung above law)

3. Right to life and freedom from torture (dissidents tortured or executed)

4. Right to leave country (border is tightly controlled)

5. Right to own property (all property is owned by the state)

6. Freedom of expression (society is classed based on loyalty to leadership)

• Faith in Human Progress: North Korean policies do somewhat support this idea with their policy of self suffiency. They believe that through hard work all individuals will benefit the state and therefore benefit the collective.
• Decentalized Power: North Korean policies completely disagree with this, both polically and economically. The government highly regulates the economy, and the power is completely central to one dictator, Kim Il Sung, and his son.
• Individual Freedom: Kim Il Sung does not support personal freedom, but instead hard work for the benefit of the state.
• Reason of the Invidiual: Due to the fact that the government is a dictatorship, it is likely Kim Il Sung does not support the reason of the individual particularily in the instance of government decision making.

Would I support the actions of this dictator?

• Absolutely not. His actions resulted in the starvation of millions of his citizens, and the removal of most of their basic human rights.

Was the will of the people reflected in the actions of Kim Il Sung?

• This is unclear, as many North Koreans appear to worship Kim Il Sung, and cry upon the presence of his statute.
• The legitimacy of this tribute is questionable, due to the secrecy North Korea is shrouded in. To some extend, the people of North Korea have been brainwashed into loving their dictator through propaganda.

Did Kim Il Sung act for the common good of the nation?

• No, Kim Il Sung reflected the will of the Soviet Union, and deglects basic needs of his citizens, especially during times of famine.