List of leaders of North Korea

The Supreme leader of North Korea is the de facto top leader of North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The holder of the office serves as the leader of the Workers' Party of Korea (currently General Secretary) , chief of the state (currently Chairman of the State Affairs Commission) and the Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army as well as the holder of the highest office of North Korea.

Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea 조선민주주의인민공화국의 최고령도자
Emblem of North Korea
Incumbent Kim Jong-un since 17 December 2011
Status	Supreme leader
Residence	Ryongsong Residence[1]
Appointer	Hereditary succession (de facto)
Term length	Life tenure
Inaugural holder	Kim Il-sung
Formation	9 September 1948

North Korea
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of North Korea
Constitution Juche  (state ideology) Songun  ("military-first" policy) Eternal Leaders Kim Il-sung Kim Jong-il
Workers' Party General Secretary: Kim Jong-un Congress (8th) Rules Central Committee (8th) Politburo (8th) Presidium Kim Jong-un Choe Ryong-hae Jo Yong-won Kim Tok-hun Ri Pyong-chol Central Military Commission (8th) Chairman: Kim Jong-un Secretariat (8th) Organization and Guidance Department Propaganda and Agitation Department United Front Department Central Auditing Commission (8th) Chairman: Jong Sang-hak
State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un First Vice Chairman Choe Ryong-hae Korean People's Army Supreme Commander: Kim Jong-un
Government Cabinet Premier: Kim Tok-hun Judiciary Supreme Court Legislature Presidium President: Choe Ryong-hae
Elections Recent elections Parliamentary: 2009 2014 2019 Local: 2011 2015 2019
Administrative divisions First-level Provinces Special cities Second-level cities Kun  (county) Third-level Eup  (town) Dong  (neighborhood) Ri  (village) Rodonjagu  (workers' district)
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Ri Son-gwon Diplomatic missions of / in North Korea Nationality law Passport Visa requirements Visa policy Korean conflict Korean reunification
Related topics Censorship Human rights Kim dynasty Propaganda Illicit activities Law Enforcement Security Ministry
North Korea portal Other countries

At the end of World War II, the Soviet Union occupied the northern half of Korea and in 1946 established the Provisional People's Committee for North Korea chaired by Kim Il-sung. On 9 September 1948, the DPRK was proclaimed, also led by Kim Il-sung.

The leaders of the DPRK have been Kim Il-sung, his son Kim Jong-il, and his grandson Kim Jong-un. In this role they have not held consistent titles, though they were each leaders of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK)—titled as Chairman from 1948 to 1966, General Secretary from 1966 to 2011, First Secretary from 2011 to 2016, Chairman again from 2016 to 2021, and finally General Secretary again since 2021—for almost all of their period in power. Even though they have the appearance of a dynasty, succession is informal.

From 1948 to 1972, the nominal head of state was the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA). In 1972, the constitution was amended to create an executive presidency. Kim Il-sung, who had served as Premier of North Korea since the DPRK's inception, was unanimously elected President of North Korea by the Supreme People's Assembly on December 28. He held this office until his death on 8 July 1994 when he was proclaimed the "eternal President of the Republic". Practical functions of the head of state were then exercised by the President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, before being transferred to the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission.

After the death of Kim Il-sung, his son Kim Jong-il was understood to have inherited his father's near-absolute control over the country.[2][3][4] Although he had been his father's designated successor since at least 1991, it took him three years to fully consolidate his power. He was elected general secretary of the party in 1997, and was reelected Chairman of the National Defence Commission (NDC) in 1998. During his rule he was given a range of titles. He ruled the country until his death on 17 December 2011. He was succeeded by his son, Kim Jong-un, who was revealed to be in charge of the country since his father's death by the Rodong Sinmun and finally publicly acknowledged as "Supreme Leader" at the military review ending Kim Jong-il's funeral on 29 December 2011. Who would succeed Kim Jong-un is uncertain and has been speculated upon after health concerns arose in April of 2020.[5]

The government is headed by the Premier of the Cabinet, formerly called Premier of the Administration Council.

Other important institutions include the SPA, whose sessions are chaired by the Chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly, and, since 1993, the Chairman of the NDC–since 2016, known as the State Affairs Commission–which holds supreme command of the DPRK's armed forces.

While two other parties, the Korean Social Democratic Party and the Chondoist Chongu Party, nominally exist, only the WPK holds any power at the national level. The other parties, and indeed all other mass organizations in the country, are completely subservient to the WPK. Almost nothing is mentioned about the minor parties except the names of their current leaders.[6]

Since 1997, the SPA chairman, premier and NDC/SAC chairman have officially formed a triumvirate heading the executive branch, with powers equivalent to one-third of a president's powers in other presidential systems. The SPA chairman conducts foreign affairs and receives the credentials of ambassadors, the premier handles domestic policy and the NDC/SAC chairman commands the armed forces. In practice, however, the real power is vested in the SAC chairman (who has also been leader of the WPK), an office constitutionally defined as the "highest post in the state”.

Currently, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea is the first priority political position of the Supreme Leader.[7]